The Rapture: Macabre or Marvelous? :: By Angel Torres

Published on: by RR10 Category:General Articles

The Rapture. Fewer words can conjure up such a dizzying panoply of images and opinions! I remember the words of one author1 who described the Rapture “… as a macabre supernatural dream eluding understanding or explanation, looming on the periphery of my everyday life.”

What is the Rapture, anyway? GotQuestions.org2 provides us with an excellent definition:

“… the rapture is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’s wrath.”

The Rapture will be the culmination of 2,000+ years of church history! Far from being a “macabre supernatural dream,” it has long been a marvelous source of encouragement for millions of Christians:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13; emphasis added).

Christians will be caught up to meet with Jesus in the clouds; this will all happen “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), and it will precede the darkest era of human history. Now, you might be asking, “Why is Jesus going to remove Christians from Earth?” Well, why would a loving father pick up his son who is sitting in the middle of the street? Because he wouldn’t want his son to get seriously hurt! As I mentioned just a moment ago, the Rapture will come before an exceedingly dark episode in human history. In fact, nothing else can be likened to it. The purpose of this ghastly point in history will be centered around God’s wrath being poured out on an unrepentant world:

“For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:21).

2,000 years have passed since Jesus of Nazareth was crucified and rose to life again on the third day. God has given mankind 20 centuries to repent (that is, to have a change of mind about sin) and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Billions have done so throughout the last 2,000 years, but eventually, God, in His infinite goodness and holiness, must administer justice:

“The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked…” (Nahum 1:3).

There are a lot of misconceptions that people have about the Rapture. As always, however, it’s best if we get our information from the Bible directly (instead of relying on what others say about the Bible). The point is that this subject does have massive implications because the whole world will be affected by it. When millions of Christians suddenly vanish, chaos will ensue! The Rapture will not be limited by national borders, either. Christians from all over the earth will disappear… at the same time.

In closing, I would like to share the words of a Christian3 who lived over a millennia ago. His words, though old, still ring forth with truth and urgency:

“We ought to understand thoroughly therefore, my brothers, what is imminent or overhanging… Why therefore do we not reject every care of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of the Lord Christ, so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms all the world?”

Sources:

  1. https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/05/rapture-fear-evangelical-americans-church-miller.html
  2. https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Rapture-Second-Coming.html
  3. https://www.according2prophecy.org/lastimes.html

 

 

Definition of Love :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10 Category:General Articles, Nathele Graham

What is the definition of love? Well, if you look in the dictionary, you’ll find some superficial meanings. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Love is defined as a noun. “A feeling of affection and concern toward another person, kinship or close friendship. A strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction. A feeling of devotion or adoration toward God or a god.”

See what I mean? Love is a noun, but it should also be a verb, which is an action word. For a Christian, love should be the motivation to show God’s love to a lost world. This world is ruled by Satan, and he has corrupted love, just like he corrupts all lovely things from God. He corrupted the perfect life in the Garden of Eden, and he has turned love into a self-centered thing that doesn’t resemble God’s love at all. God’s love is perfect. He is forgiving to those who are repentant. He has rules because He knows what is best. He sent His only Son to give His life as the final sacrifice to take our sins away. That’s love.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The world can only bring death and unhappiness. Only faith in Jesus Christ can bring eternal life and the joy of salvation.

If we love God, we put selfish motives behind us and care for other people. The Apostle Paul was totally changed by God’s love. He had been a very angry man who hated Christians. He was on his way to arrest a group of Christians who had fled to Damascus, and that’s where he met Jesus. From that moment on, his life was changed. He became a Christian and a leader in the Christian community. His letters, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have guided Christians for nearly 2,000 years. If modern missionaries followed Paul’s example, we would have many more people accept Christ. He understood God’s love.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Is this talking about love or about charity? I really don’t know why the King James translators used the word “charity,” but we need to look at the Greek word for charity. It’s “agape,” which is defined as affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love. Most modern translations translate agape as love.

Paul had learned a lot since he met Jesus. He could do all kinds of works, but that wouldn’t be love. Many Christians feel pride if they speak in tongues and use other gifts of the Spirit to prove their “holiness.” In truth, none of those things replace love. If you speak in tongues but then use your mouth to use vulgar language or don’t have a Godly love for other people, then you’re just making noise. If your knowledge of Scripture is deep but you don’t have love for others, then you’re not truly understanding Scripture. Christian love is a verb.

How does God’s love shine in your life?

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

There are some words in that passage that may need defining. Love is patient and kind. If you lose patience with others, then you’re putting yourself above them. Jesus, God Himself, is kind and patient with you, and we must use Him as our example to follow. If you love like God loves, you won’t be jealous of others or strut around showing off; you won’t be filled with pride. Love won’t let you be rude or demand your own way. You won’t be easily angered by the shortcomings of others, and you won’t think evil toward others. Love doesn’t take joy when evil happens but rejoices in truth.

Love doesn’t give up on others. If you’re a parent and have a rebellious child, you don’t stop loving that child and praying for repentance; you believe the child can and will change, and whatever the circumstance, you love them through the problems. That’s how God loves you. Even when we fail, He loves us. You can be more tolerant of others when you honestly look at yourself and see your faults, but know that God loves you anyway. God’s love is perfect love, and we need to strive to live to honor Him. God is the true definition of love.

Works cannot save us; only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus will bring repentance to our hearts and salvation for our souls. Doing good things is the result of our faith, or it should be. We can tell the world we love Jesus, but if we don’t have love, we are showing others a dead faith.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20).

The problem with works is that many times works are used instead of faith and love. It can be easy to show others how Christian you are because you speak in tongues, but that means nothing if you turn around and brag about your gift or speak evil of others. Is that showing God’s love? No, it isn’t. Go back through the list of things that Paul named as things that reflect God’s love and attitudes that are opposed to God’s love, and see if you need to change your actions to reflect God. Are you short-tempered? Maybe you’re jealous of others.

I’m not pointing fingers, because I see myself in that list. On the other hand, recently, I have had a very difficult situation. Some Christian friends have shown me the sacrificial love of God, and I’m very humbled by their kindness. I truly don’t know what I would have done without these fellow Christians who have done so much. I thank God for them and hope that somehow I can pass a blessing on to someone else. The kindnesses they’ve shown are seen by others who aren’t Christians, and that is an added blessing that could draw a lost soul to salvation.

God’s love is eternal. He has given us blessings in this life that are amazing. The gift of speaking in tongues is one of those blessings, if used properly. He has given us prophecy to be a guide as we move swiftly to the end of time. He has given men wisdom to understand the truth of His word. These, and other gifts, are wonderful blessings from God, but one day, they will be meaningless.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Love is eternal. The love of God will take Christians to eternity with Jesus. He is building a mansion for us right now. The building is almost done and ready for His bride. If you love God, then share the Gospel with someone, but let the Holy Spirit guide you in presenting the Gospel. Show His love to someone who just might be ready to accept God’s love. If you don’t speak up, they may miss their chance for salvation. Or, you could be the one who shares the Gospel with the final person to accept Christ in order for the Rapture to happen. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Instead of looking in a dictionary for the definition of love, look to Scripture. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

Just like sugar is sweet and water is wet, God is love.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).