In 2021, I submitted a message that was published on two Rapture sites about “The Times They Are A-Changing!” Just over the four years that have passed since then, changes are becoming more and more intense worldwide, and for anything that has to do with Christianity, it’s definitely not changing for the better. (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)
For anyone to believe that our Heavenly Father is caught by surprise by all this, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 2 Timothy 3, and 2 Thessalonians 2 all speak of signs of the coming of the end of this age. Going further back, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Isaiah, and others all gave prophecy about the future, and all but the actual second coming of our Lord and Savior have taken place just as the Bible said they would.
Numerous Bible scholars are saying that the next event on this earth’s time table is the taking up of all who have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior to be kept from the coming wrath/tribulation. That will be to keep God’s promise to all true believers, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10. That event is known as the harpazo or the Rapture.
Please understand, our Heavenly Father loves all of us more than we could ever totally understand. Also, He is fully aware that every human who has ever lived on this earth, except His Son, Jesus the Christ, has the sin-nature within us, compliments of the first sin in the Garden of Eden, as given in Genesis 3, and we all sin (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23).
Jesus could have decided He would not come to this earth in a lowly human form and face an extremely terrible ordeal to provide a pathway to eternal life for all who would become a part of His precious flock, but He did come and fulfilled what the Father required.
God could have decided we weren’t worth His efforts, and could have completely wiped this earth from any further existence, but He didn’t. Instead, we have Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13, which state that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
God also has given a means for us to be forgiven when, not if, we commit sin. Going to 1 John 1:8-10, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
One belief that causes many to fail is that we can earn or buy our way to Heaven. They simply can’t believe it’s through faith that we know Jesus paid it all for us, and by grace and mercy, God has provided the free gift of Salvation to all who truly accept His Son. Our part is to Admit we’re sinners; Believe Jesus is our only way to eternal Salvation; and to Call out for Him to save us (Romans 10: 9-13).
Yet, our Savior – one third of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – believes our souls are worth saving. He even sends the Holy Spirit to be within all who do become a part of His flock in order that we can all be with Him when this world goes through the most horrible seven years it has ever seen. Saying it’s an “Amazing Grace” just touches the surface of His love for us.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788), brother of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist religion, wrote as many as 6,500 songs after his conversion in 1738. One of those songs, titled “How Can It Be,” was written in his conversion year.
1.) And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood?” Died He for me, who caused His pain—For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing Love! How can it be that Thou My God, should die for me?
Ref.) Amazing Love! How can it be that Thou, My God, should die for me?
2.) Tis mystery all! The immortal dies! Who can explain His strange deign? In vain the firstborn seraph tried to sound the depths of love divine! It’s Mercy All! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more. (ref)
3.) He left His Father’s throne above—So free, so infinite His grace—emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me! (ref)
4.) Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye delivered a quickening ray – I woke, the dungeon flamed with light. My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. (ref)
5.) No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine. Alive in Him, my living head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own! (ref)
Some other song titles credited to Charles Wesley are “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” and many more.
As stated, this world is developing a turning away attitude from Christianity that was prophesied to take place near the end of this age. In 1 John 2:22, John states, “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.”
Going to 1 John 4:1-3, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming, and now is in the world already.”
Please note, 1 John was written somewhere between 85 and 110 A.D., and antichrists and false prophets had already started. Satan has been biding his time to get his ultimate antichrist and false prophet to come forth to take this earth through a terrible seven years, and severely persecute God’s chosen, the Jews. Also, anyone who professes to be a believer in Jesus will be subject to martyrdom until Jesus returns to put the tribulation down.
Different news sources today are reporting a significant turning away from any true belief in our Savior. In some countries, for pastors to preach against all the “letter groups” (LGBT, etc), they are subject to being arrested. For parents to keep their children from being taught alternative lifestyles, they are also subject to being jailed and having their children taken from them. The “Freedom of Religion” is disappearing, and not in just a few places.
These would fall into the signs given about end of this age prophecies. Luke 21:28 states, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Ever since the sin in the Garden of Eden, this world has had a degree of evil to contend with, but today, the attitude against anything Christian is intensifying.
Rather than be “fainting with fear and foreboding of what’s coming on the world” (Luke 21:26), anyone who does not have Jesus as their Savior needs to seriously consider their future. Not just the immediate time, but eternity.
As stated before, God will force no one to receive and accept His Son, but all who do will change their eternal home from the lake of fire to forever in Heaven with Jesus. The only “hard” part of having Jesus as your eternal Shepherd is believing it can be so.
Also, for anyone to believe they can call out to be saved when the Rapture starts, please read 1 Corinthians 15:52; “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trumpet….” At that speed, it will take place in less than one second; and yes, God can do that.
The best scenario would be to have Jesus in your heart as your Eternal Shepherd right now. There is no other way. John 14:6; “And Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Our Savior is never too busy to accept your call, and all who truly ask His forgiveness and for Him to be their Savior will have a Home waiting for them with Him in Heaven. The only sin right now that is unforgivable is to not have Jesus as your Savior when you take your last breath here.
It’s completely your choice. Today would not be too soon; tomorrow could be too late.
Hope to see you in Heaven!