This is part 2 on my series on end times.  This post is on the rapture of the church.
https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/left-behind-part-1

You may want to check out part 1 first.  It is a comparison between the judgment seat of Christ and the great white throne judgment.
https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/the-carrot-or-the-stick

Viewing on substack will be a much easier read, but I've pasted the text for those who don't want to leave nostr.  Consider subscribing so you don't miss a post.

Up, Up, and AwayLeft Behind, Part 2
MAY 14, 2024
Check out Part 1 of this series.
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:16)Lately I have been feeling an urgency to write. This is partly because I feel our time left on Earth is short. So many things seem to be lining up with Biblical prophecy in books like Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians. When I face God, I don’t want to have to admit that I didn’t do all I could to call people to repentance and faith in God. I also believe that the church (true believers) will be raptured before the seven year tribulation as described in 1Thessalonians.For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep {died}. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) {emphasis mine}This rapture of the church will occur not only to those who are alive at the time, but also to those who died in Christ in the past. The time before this event is the last chance for people to avoid the terror and hardship of the tribulation and I believe that time is short (I will never claim to know when, but I feel in every ounce of my being that the time is short). There will be some saved during the tribulation, but they will all go through major hardship and most who become Christians during the tribulation will most likely be martyred. If there is anything I can do to prevent people from going through this experience, I feel called to do so. “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22) Of course only Jesus can save. I hope that these words will draw you closer to Jesus whether that means you accept Him as your Savior or it just means your faith is strengthened and you are encouraged to witness to the lost.
I feel like I need to write about making sure we have a saving relationship with Christ, so we get raptured, and what those who are left behind need to know going into the tribulation (I will discuss this in a subsequent post). This is way out of my comfort zone, but I am going to do my best and let the Bible and the Holy Spirit guide me. I’m sure this will be a multipart series, but I’m not yet sure how many parts or how I will divide it.“Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14)This verse talks about how we need to wake up, turn to Jesus, and obey Him as the end times draw near. This verse says to Christians “The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” For Christians, this current time of evil and hardship is night. It is the hardest time we will experience. After the rapture, we will experience the day. We will experience a time with no sin, no pain, not illness, and no death. It will be marvelous!Unfortunately for those who have not trusted Jesus, I say “The day is almost gone, and the night is near.” This current time of evil and hardship that we experience today is the best that unbelievers will ever experience. The night is coming when todays sorrows and hardship and evil will seem like paradise compared to what they will experience during the tribulation and during eternity in Hell. It is so important to trust Jesus and to submit to Him while we still have the chance.We are also told (not specifically for end times) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19) I’ve always known I need to do a better job of sharing the gospel with unbelievers and discipling believers, but that burden, that need, has multiplied as I feel time is running out. I am trying to be faithful.Something like 30 years ago, I was traveling and went to the local Christian book store to get a book to read. I grabbed this interesting sounding book titled Left Behind. While reading the book during my flight, I got to the part where the Christians were raptured. The pilot, but not the co-pilot was raptured and multiple passengers were raptured right from their seats in the plane. I have to admit, it kind of freaked me out and I was looking around me to make sure none of the passengers on my plane were missing. When the rapture happens for real, it will cause mayhem, sadness, and fear.When all of the Christians disappear, the already depraved culture will get much worse without the Christians here upholding God’s word as a reference of right and wrong. Many atheists, like Richard Dawkins, who says he loves Christian culture, but wishes that nobody actually believed in Christ, will be shocked to find that Christian culture doesn’t work without Christ and Christians.When the Christians are raptured to meet Jesus in the air, nobody will be unaware of the disappearance of the church (although I suspect that there will lots of excuses made for why they are gone, ie. removed by aliens for the good of mankind, etc.)When Jesus returns after the tribulation, nobody will miss His coming. His return will be seen by all. Those who trusted Him during the tribulation will see Him with joy. Those who rejected Him will see Him and despair."And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:10-11)As Christians, we do not need to fear the coming tribulation, the wrath of God. God has promised we are not under His wrath.For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:8-10) {emphasis mine}When this verse says “whether we are awake or asleep” it is saying “whether we are alive or dead”. The Bible always speaks of dead believers as being asleep because we will awake to be with Him at His return.Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)As we see the last days approaching and the world turning to evil unimaginable we need to have hope in the promise of God that we will join Him in heaven. We need to be fearless and share the gospel with even more urgency. We need to encourage each other in “love and good deeds.”I hope you will be encouraged in your faith and your service to GodAnd then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. (Mark13:21-23)When the church is raptured, everyone will know it. There will be no mistaking this event. You don’t need to wonder. You will know, whether you are gathered to be with Jesus or whether you are left behind. You will know.
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