If you've been reading my blogs and articles, you know my criticism of the contemporary church. One of my criticisms is that they no longer talk about end-times prophecy, even though the Bible often refers to the end times. Some statistics put it at 30% of the New Testament. Jesus said:

The term “be ready” implies anticipation. If we are not discussing prophecy in our church, we are not looking for Jesus either. We are to be "looking for him." if we are not anticipating the return of our Savior, what is the point of going to church?

There is a great deal of interest among my readers in prophecy, so I will write more blogs about prophecy, beginning with this one.

A very dear friend asked that I write a blog about the Rapture or, more specifically, The Rapture of the Church. That’s where we will start.

If you decide to study the Rapture and prophecy, I recommend that you read my article:
How To Study Prophecy

Jesus will meet us in the clouds. It will take place like a flash of lightning (Luke 17:24).

The word "rapture" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. The term is a title for the catching-up event described in the Bible. However, the Bible provides few details about this event and requires gathering information from various scriptures. It is important to note that the doctrine does not take verses out of context but instead interprets them in an exegesis study to understand the event.

There are no preconditions for the Rapture to take place. It could happen tonight or tomorrow. Most Christians and Bible scholars believe it will occur just before the great tribulation. Much of the groundwork for fulfilling the end times prophecies are taking place. We know that conditions are ripe for the rise to power of the Antichrist and his world government. Because the time of the Antichrist is near, Believers understand that the time of the Rapture is also near.

The Bible's relative lack of detail regarding the Rapture has resulted in differing beliefs regarding its timing, with some interpretations potentially valid, albeit unlikely. Unfortunately, both within and outside the church, there are a plethora of conjectures and ludicrous theories concerning this event.

The Rapture is different from the second coming of Christ. At the Rapture, Jesus comes for his church, the living and the dead. At the second coming, Jesus will return with his church. At the second coming, the battle of Armageddon will be fought, and Jesus will set up an earthly Kingdom to last for 1,000 years (known as the Millennium).

Imagine the immense impact of the Rapture on those left behind. Christians can be found in various roles worldwide, driving cars, flying planes, performing critical surgeries, and undertaking construction work. Then, in an instant, millions of Believers vanish without a trace, leaving the world in chaos. There's no one to steer the car, fly the plane, carry out the surgery, or complete the bathroom remodel. All of the children under the age of 12 will disappear. Can you fathom the sense of bewilderment and panic that would grip the planet at that moment?

The most pressing question that will arise from this catastrophic event is, "What happened to all the people?"

This question supports the position that the Rapture will occur at the start of the tribulation. (The Bible doesn't say that, but we can conclude based on the evidence). The world will demand an explanation, and the Antichrist will most likely step forward to provide a brilliant answer. The Rapture will mark the beginning of the Great Deception, where the world sees the Antichrist as the great leader who will deliver them from all their troubles.

The Bible says something is keeping the Antichrist from coming to power. It does not disclose the reason or the identity of the something. I believe that something is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world. The Holy Spirit lives within the Believers, and all the Believers together make up the church. Therefore, when the church Is removed (the Rapture), nothing holds back the secret power of lawlessness, but that is my belief and the belief of many others – the Bible doesn't say this specifically.

Always remember my second rule for studying prophecy: Keep an open mind!

The belief among Christians that the Rapture is near has been present since the church's inception. However, the current times differ significantly from the past. In the past, people saw some signs and concluded the Rapture was near. In today's world, all of the signs have been met. The world is in trouble, real trouble. We need a leader that can deliver us from this mess, ergo, the Antichrist.

See My Article: Understanding the Times We Are In.

We need to prepare for the Rapture event. It doesn't involve packing a suitcase. We must take steps to ensure that those left behind understand what has happened and are not deceived by the Great Deception that will follow. We should strive to become familiar with end times events and share the story with our unsaved loved ones. This education will help them understand what has happened when these events occur. Perhaps they will turn their lives over to Christ at that time if they know. This awareness is especially important for our families, but we must be careful not to push them if they are unwilling to surrender their lives to Jesus.

Pastor Jimmy Evans wrote a book with this idea in mind. It’s called “Where Are All The Missing People?". The book explains the Rapture to those left behind. The idea is to leave the book on your coffee table so that when you disappear in the Rapture, anyone coming into your home will find the book and know what happened. I highly recommend the book. It's 106 pages.

Sharing this knowledge with our unsaved family and friends may be the only light they have in times of great trouble.

It is important to note that Jesus did not foretell prophecy so that we could be focused on the troubles. Jesus told us these things in advance so that we could be focused on Him.

God Bless!
Mark