General Articles

After The Rapture :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10

The Rapture is a wonderful promise from God. Though many Christians cannot believe it will happen, Scripture says it will.

“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; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

I do look forward to that wonderful family reunion around the throne of God. Jesus told us signs to watch for; He spoke of the coming Tribulation, not the Rapture. The Rapture will happen prior to the Tribulation. As we see the wars, famine, earthquakes, pestilence, and more growing more frequent and stronger, we know those final seven years will soon begin. We also know that Christians are not appointed to wrath, and that alone tells us we will not face the extremely troubled time of the Tribulation.

As I see signs that it’s approaching, I do get a bit frightened. There is so much wickedness and evil all around. There’s wickedness in the thoughts of people, among government leaders, the World Economic Forum, and much more. The horrid war in the Middle East is alarming not only because of the pure evil that Hamas inflicted on Israel but also the astonishing fact that so many people blame Israel for the atrocity. Even many Christians seem blind to the truth. I can only assume that they either only repeat mistruths without studying Scripture for themselves, or they don’t really believe Scripture at all. Either way, it’s a sad comment on what is being taught from the pulpits.

As I see the events leading up to the Tribulation, and knowing that the Rapture will be first, I have a strong desire to share the Gospel. For those who are left behind, it will be a time of unfathomable horrors.

What will happen after the Rapture?

The answer to that question depends upon whether or not you have truly accepted Christ as your Saviour. If you have any doubt about that, don’t delay in settling the issue now. If you think you’re a Christian, then you need to understand what it is you believe.

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23).

You need to understand that Jesus was God incarnate. He left His place in Glory to step into His creation – yes, He created everything – and to give His life for our salvation. Only God’s pure, untainted blood could purchase our redemption. Jesus was crucified and buried, and on the third day, He arose from the grave and conquered death! What perfect love He showed us! If you don’t believe this, then you need to talk to a true Christian, repent, and believe. This decision must be made prior to your death and prior to the Rapture.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

There is no second chance… no purgatory, no “lesser place of punishment” that you can work your way out of. In fact, works can in no way earn you the right to live eternally in Heaven. It’s only faith in Christ that brings salvation.

The Book of Revelation is a book of hope for all of us who have truly accepted Christ for salvation. Jesus dictated seven letters to the Apostle John, which were written to seven churches. These seven letters describe the various eras of church history. The first letter describes the first Christians who were commended for their faith and patience. It describes how they stood against evil and how they rejected false teachers. It also says they needed to repent and return to their first love, which was Jesus. The final letter is written to our time period. A time when Christ is left outside of a Christian’s life. They aren’t hot nor cold but have a very lukewarm faith. These people think they need nothing from God, but they’re wrong. They have all the money they need to buy all the things they want, and they think they don’t need Jesus.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

It’s an individual choice.

With this last letter, the Christian era on Earth is finished. That’s not the end of the story. Today, we are in the last days, and very soon, all true Christians will hear the call to come up here.

“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1).

The Greek words for “after this” and “hereafter” are “meta tauta” which denote a sequence. First, something happens, and after that, the next thing happens. In this case, the church age happens first, and then the Rapture. First the Rapture, then the wrath of the Lamb. John was told to “Come up hither.” The Greek word used is “anabaino,” which means ascend. So, after the church age, we ascend to Heaven, and then there’s tribulation on Earth.

The Apostle Paul also wrote about the Rapture. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The call to John to ascend and the following verses precede Revelation chapter 6, which begins describing the wrath that will fall upon the earth.

The Apostle John saw what Christians will see after the Rapture. “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold” (Revelation 4:2-4).

What a sight to see! Christians truly have a blessed hope in Jesus. Although Christians will be judged, we have no part in the wrath of God. Jesus took the full punishment for our sins upon Himself when He was crucified. The judgment we face will be more of a rewards ceremony. The works we do for Christ on Earth will earn us crowns.

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:10-11).

The elders, who represent the redeemed, give all the rewards (crowns) to God. These crowns are not king’s crowns but “stephanos,” which is a victor’s crown, such as an award given to the winner of a race. When we are before our Lord and Saviour, we will realize that He gets all the glory for the good we have done in this life. It has to be understood that the good things we have done in order to bring glory to ourselves will be burned like wood, hay, and stubble.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

The wood, hay, and stubble will burn. Things you’ve done for your own glory will be burned up. The gold, silver, and precious stones will survive the judgment fire and will be crowns to cast before the Lord. What a wonderful blessing for Christians who give more than lip service to Christ!

When Christians are called Home, the Restrainer, who is holding back the pure evil of Satan, will be taken out of the way. Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been active in the world since the beginning but not indwelling people. That is a unique blessing for Christians. In Old Testament times, the Spirit would come upon people and help them but then leave them. When David committed great sin, he wrote a beautiful Psalm of repentance in which He makes this plea:

“Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11).

After the Rapture, the Holy Spirit will still be active in the world, but He won’t indwell people who come to faith during the Tribulation.

Paul wrote, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10).

This may be difficult to understand in the King James translation, but what it means is that the Holy Spirit indwelling Christians is a barrier holding back total evil from taking over. We see evil today, but it will be much worse during the Tribulation. After the Rapture, the most evil man who has ever lived, whom we call the Anti-Christ, will make himself known. He will step in, and it will seem that he has all the answers to stop the chaos.

What if you don’t have true faith in Christ and the Rapture happens before you truly repent and place your faith in Christ? At first, you will be confused. People you know and love will suddenly be gone. Things you are used to in this life won’t work as they always have. Television, radio, airplane travel, and more will be interrupted. Many of the people who made these things work are gone. When you get to your job, many of your co-workers will be missing. It won’t take long for the reality to set in. The people who had witnessed you and tried to convince you to give your life to Christ are gone. You’ve probably heard of the Rapture, but now you really understand. They were right; faith in Christ was the most important decision you should have made.

From this point on, things will only get worse as the Tribulation progresses. Major judgments are beginning. John saw a scroll with seven seals that needed to be opened. The only one worthy to open the scroll was Jesus.

As the seals are opened, judgments begin on Earth. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2).

This rider isn’t a good guy but starts the judgments.

The second seal is opened, and a rider on a red horse goes out and takes peace from the earth, and people kill each other. The third seal is opened, and a black horse goes out, and judgment on food is inflicted… famine. The fourth seal sees a pale horse, and his rider is Death, and Hell followed with him. They were given power “…to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8b).

The judgments are just getting started.

The next seal sees martyrs crying to God for justice, and the sixth seal sees an earthquake. The sun becomes black, the moon looks like blood, and stars fall to Earth. Heaven is rolled up like a scroll, and the mountains and islands are moved from their places. The rich and powerful men try to hide from the judgment.

“And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:16-17).

Only Christians who have been taken Home in the Rapture are safe from the wrath.

More and more judgments follow, including demons being released. “And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them” (Revelation 9:6).

It keeps getting worse.

When we reach chapter 13, we read about the Beast, a hideous creature who blasphemes God, and then we see that any person who has survived thus far is required to take a mark.

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17).

This mark happens quite a while after the Rapture, so today, if you’ve been concerned that somehow you’ve taken the Mark of the Beast, you haven’t. Eventually, the Beast will be sent to the lake of fire along with all who have taken his mark. Jesus wins; Satan loses.

The wrath and judgments keep going, but through all of the turmoil on Earth, Christians are safe in Heaven. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

What a comfort that we can depend upon God’s word!

How can you avoid the wrath? How can you avoid being a part of the Great Tribulation? The only way is to place your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ… the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Don’t just say “I believe,” but truly repent, turn away from the sin that is condemning you, and turn to Jesus. He gave His life so that you can live eternally with Him.

What happens after the Rapture? It’s up to you.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

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

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

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

Common Sense :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR10

The state of Arkansas has almost 3.2 million licensed drivers, but only 516 licensed drivers have opted to list their gender as “X” (transgender, non-binary, intersex) on their license.

On Mar. 12, 2024, Arkansas stopped putting gender “X” on driver’s licenses, and the ban will become law if it is approved by the legislature. Arkansas’ governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, defended the ban, saying she will not endorse nonsense. Huckabee said, “This policy is just common sense. Only women give birth, men shouldn’t play women’s sports, and there are only two genders.”

I personally do not think Sanders is anti-gay. Sanders is a Christian. Christians believe they should love everyone. They believe they should try to rightly understand what the Bible says and accept it as God’s will for their life. They believe everyone sins, Christians should first try to give up their own sins, and they should urge everyone else to give up their sins.

Some believe the Bible teaches that God is especially grieved by the gender (and gay) issue because He has pronounced warnings of judgment on those involved in that sin, and they think telling people what God said is an act of love, not hate.

The gender (and gay) issue is a big issue today because it is part of the globalist agenda. The U.S. is no longer a Christian nation, and many world leaders (and some in the Church) are pushing it (calling good evil and evil good, days of Lot, etc.).

Here are some recent reports that appear to relate to Bible prophecy.

One, concerning tracking all buying and selling: on Mar. 12, 2024 it was reported that the pres. of the World Bank is urging governments all over the world to embrace a global digital ID. A digital ID is a prerequisite to tracking what people buy and sell.

(More: On Mar. 14, 2024, it was reported that the U.S. is lagging far behind China, India, Japan, the EU, Brazil, Russia, and more than 100 other countries in its development of a digital currency.)

Two, concerning world government and the coming Tribulation Period: on Mar. 14, 2024, Catholic Archbishop Vigano said,

  • The pressure for the approval of the WHO Pandemic Treaty and for the health passport – accompanied by the activation of the digital wallet – demonstrate that the authors of this coup have no intention of giving up their criminal intentions and will not do so unless they are faced with firm and determined opposition from the population and those few of its representatives who are not sold out to the World Economic Forum, by those who courageously do not fail in their duties.
  • The children of darkness, the conspirators of the World Economic Forum, and the globalist cabal want to establish the kingdom of the Antichrist on Earth, as an obscene counterfeit of the Kingdom of Christ Our Lord.

Here is a link to his message.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/archbishop-vigano-the-globalist-cabal-want-to-establish-the-kingdom-of-the-antichrist-on-earth/?utm_source=digest-prolife-2024-03-15&utm_medium=email

Three, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog and financial support for Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, etc.: on Mar. 13, 2024, Pres. Biden renewed a sanctions waiver that released more than $10 billion in frozen assets to Iran.

Iranian proxies are attacking U.S. forces in Iraq, the Red Sea, etc.; they are attacking Israel near Lebanon, in Jerusalem, in the West Bank, in Gaza, and Biden has granted them access to billions of dollars.

(More: On Mar. 11, 2024, Israel’s Defense Min. said Iran is smuggling weapons and other military resources to terrorists in the West Bank, Judea and Samaria.)

(More: On Mar. 12, 2024, Israeli police said they have foiled 12 major terrorist attacks in Jerusalem since the beginning of 2024, and Iran is financing a lot of this.)

(More: On Mar. 19, 2024, a reader sent me a link to an article that said, “Various media outlets in the region, in particular, Syrian State media run by Bashar al-Assad and also Israel’s Channel 11 broadcaster, report that Russian forces are moving closer to the Israel-Syria border.” Note: It is my opinion that this could be a very big deal, but we just don’t know. What we do know is that God will drag Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others to Israel’s border and destroy them in the latter years and latter days. So, this COULD be a sign that the Rapture is close.)

Here is a link.
https://harbingersdaily.com/russian-forces-move-closer-to-the-mountains-of-israel/

Four, concerning the effort of Pres. Biden and Sen. Schumer to undermine Prime Min. Netanyahu’s government: on Mar. 12, 2024, an Israeli official said, “We expect our friends to act to overthrow the terror regime of Hamas and not the elected government in Israel.”

In many ways, the U.S. is not acting like a friend of Israel.

Five, concerning deceit and the mistreatment of hostages: on Mar. 14, 2024, an Israeli hostage that was released by Hamas after 54 days of captivity said, “They (Hamas) told us that they (our people) don’t want us in Israel, that the families don’t want us and that we won’t be back even in another year.”

Six, concerning corruption in the courts, Congressman Jim Jordan has warned District Attorney Fani Willis that she must give subpoenaed documents related to her efforts to indict former Pres. Trump and her possible collusion with the Biden administration to the House Judiciary Committee by noon on Mar. 28, 2024, or she could face contempt of Congress proceedings.

(More: The judge in Florida that is overseeing the accusations against Trump for mishandling classified documents asked the prosecution why they are prosecuting Trump for this when no other President has ever been prosecuted for it. Trump is alleging a double standard in the courts, especially now that charges against Pres. Biden have been dismissed by the Special Prosecutor.)

(More: On Mar. 15, 2024, the judge in Georgia ruled that Fani Willis can remain on the bench in the case against Pres. Trump for mishandling classified documents, but only if the lead prosecutor steps down because of a significant appearance of impropriety between the judge and the lead prosecutor. The judge said the only other option is for Willis to step down.)

(More: The lead prosecutor in this case immediately resigned.)

Seven, concerning the ashes of a Red Heifer: this week, I saw a second report that the Jews must select and sacrifice one of the four unblemished red heifers before they are too old.

I personally do not know if this is true, but if it is, time could be running out.

Eight, concerning some of the prophesied wars (Isa. 17; Ezek. 38-39; perhaps Psa. 83, etc.): on Mar. 16, 2024, the head of Israel’s military, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said, “We are in a multi-front war – Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria [West Bank] and Gaza and threats even further away.”

It truly looks like these prophesied wars are shaping up.

Nine, concerning the use of the climate change hoax to establish world government: on Mar. 18, 2024, the CEO of the world’s largest oil producer (Aramco in Saudi Arabia) said,

  • The energy transition envisioned by the ‘global warming’ crowd is failing.
  • Policymakers should abandon the ‘fantasy’ of phasing out oil and gas because demand for fossil fuels is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

(My opinion: He is probably right, but the globalists are not going to abandon their goal of establishing a world government by 2030 or sooner if possible.)

Ten, concerning signs in the sun, moon, and stars before the Second Coming, several people have asked me if the coming Apr. 8, 2024, total solar eclipse is a warning from God that His judgment will soon fall on the U.S.

Understand that there are several unusual things associated with the eclipse, but I am reluctant to say yes or no.

As I understand the Bible:

  • God often warns nations that His judgment will fall if they do not repent.
  • God often gives nations several warnings before His judgment falls.
  • In some instances, God’s judgment falls immediately, but in other cases, there is a delay before His judgment falls.

The bottom line is that we always need to repent of our sins and have our hearts right with God through Jesus.

(Reminder: Readers know that I have been saying for a long time that the judgment of God may already be falling on America.)

Eleven, concerning the decline of America: on Mar. 18, 2024, it was reported that former Auburn football coach and now U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (a Republican) went to Utah to campaign for Trent Staggs to replace retiring Senator Mitt Romney, and Tuberville said:

  • There’s not one Democrat that can tell you they stand up for God.
  • They’ve basically taken God out of everything that we’re doing.
  • We have to get back to our moral values.

(My opinion: I believe America will fall if it doesn’t come back to God, but the mess America is in can be blamed on both parties, and without God, we have no hope. America is on the brink of losing its sovereignty, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and more – at the World Health Organization meeting in late May – and only a few Republicans or Democrats are speaking out.)

Here is my daily update on the Israel-Hamas war.

Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024 (Day 160): The one hundred-fiftieth day of the resumed war.

  • Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu. Many Democrats, including Pres. Biden, want to force a peace treaty and the Two-State solution on Israel, but Netanyahu is not cooperating.
  • Biden expressed support for Sen. Chuck Schumer.
  • The U.S. is becoming Israel’s greatest obstacle to the defeat of Hamas.
  • Polls show that Netanyahu would win a new election in Israel by a wide margin.
  • A Muslim terrorist stabbed 2 Jews in southern Israel (one is in critical condition).
  • Israel is preparing to build factories to produce more of its military needs due to rising tensions with the U.S. over the Gaza war and a need to become less dependent upon America.
  • Netanyahu called Hamas’ latest hostage offer absurd and approved the plan to begin operations in Rafah.
  • The Houthis now have hypersonic missiles.

Friday, Mar. 15, 2024 (Day 161): The one hundred-fifty-first day of the resumed war.

  • Israel has deployed thousands of police in Jerusalem and near the Temple Mount.
  • Two hostages that have been released were held in Rafah, and Israel believes more hostages are being held there.
  • Israel told Egypt it plans to move large weapons close to Rafah to conduct pinpoint hostage rescue efforts before it launches an all-out effort to destroy Hamas there.

Saturday, Mar. 16, 2024 (Day 162): The one hundred-fifty-second day of the resumed war.

  • Hamas leaders met with Houthi leaders to coordinate their war with Israel.
  • Israel discovered a 200-meter-long tunnel (with grenades, RPG missiles, explosives, rocket launchers, combat vests, and cameras) near a residential area and destroyed it.

Sunday, Mar. 17, 2024 (Day 163): The one hundred-fifty-third day of the resumed war.

  • Ceasefire talks are expected to resume in Egypt today.
  • An Israeli legal advisor told the Knesset that Israel can refuse to allow the UNRWA to operate in Gaza.

Monday, Mar. 18, 2024 (Day 164): The one hundred-fifty-fourth day of the resumed war.

  • Israel said Hamas terrorists regrouped at the UNRWA Al-Shifa Hospital compound and fired on Israeli troops. Israel attacked the compound. At least 20 Hamas terrorists, a Hamas commander, and an Israeli soldier died during the raid. Many weapons were captured. 20 more terrorists were killed nearby. (Note: The UN, UNRWA, and others often deny that Hamas terrorists are in the hospitals.)
  • Concerning Sen. Chuck Schumer’s effort to undermine Prime Min. Netanyahu by calling for a new election in Israel, Netanyahu said, “It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. That’s something that Israel, the Israeli public, does on its own, and we’re not a banana republic.”
  • Israel will offer a 6-week ceasefire in exchange for 40 hostages. Israel could also agree to release 400 Palestinian prisoners (Hamas wants 1,000) held in Israel in exchange for 40 female, elderly, and wounded hostages.
  • Netanyahu said defeating Hamas will deliver a stinging blow to the Iranian terrorist axis.

Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2024 (Day 165): The one hundred-fifty-fifth day of the resumed war.

  • In the last 2 days, Israel has killed about 50 terrorists and arrested about 300 others at the UNRWA Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Many high-ranking and mid-level terrorists have been killed or captured. 2 Israeli soldiers were killed in the operation.

FYI: God does not send anyone to Hell (all of us are born with a sin nature and destined to go to Hell because we sin), but God has provided a way (Jesus) for everyone to go to Heaven (and He is the only way to get there; John 14:6).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com