From October 2014
I read the article below earlier and it really started me thinking about some things. I hope readers are not disappointed, as we really are not going to cover any debate on whether there will or will not be a rapture. One might call this a bait and switch article. The article that got me thinking was written by Jim Denison, a columnist for Christianpost.com
The Left Behind series is a publishing phenomenon, with 16 books and $65 million in sales. Three movies have been based on the series; today’s Left Behind makes the fourth. In it, Nicolas Cage plays a pilot who attempts to calm his surviving passengers high above the Atlantic after the believers have been raptured. Other well-known actors include Lea Thompson, Jordin Sparks, and Nicky Whelan.
The movie is based on the doctrine of the “rapture” (from the Latin rapturo, to take out). There are various versions of the rapture, but they have in common the belief that Christians will be removed from the world by God during the “end times
via ‘Left Behind:’ Will There Be a Rapture?.
As I said, reading the above article really made me think. The writer made some great points, and I want to expand on them here. There are many views on the timing and particulars of the return of Jesus Christ. I happen to believe the Doctrinal Statement of the American Baptist Association represents Biblical truth; however even within that there is room for debate on the timing of the Rapture. We all believe the Rapture will take place, but not all agree whether it will be before, in the middle of or at the end of the Tribulation.
The truth is, not all believe the same things concerning the Rapture, the Tribulation or the Millenium. There are many compelling arguments to support different viewpoints on the subject. We can believe differently on these issues without anybody being branded as a heretic. The one thing that remains true, and must remain true if we are to be considered correctly believing Christians:
Jesus is coming back!
I need to say up front, there is nothing wrong with scholarly study of the Bible. In fact, Scripture is crystal clear that we are to study and meditate on the inspired writings it contains. The study of Scripture, however, is not the end goal; it is simply a tool we use in order to reach the real objective. If our lives are full of study with no application, then it has been wasted time. Scripture is to change us, not just make us smarter and more knowledgeable about it. James taught us this idea clearly in James 1:23,24. If we look into the mirror of God’s Word and do nothing, it is like a man looking in a mirror and seeing what needs to be fixed but walking away without fixing it.
Jesus took one last opportunity to teach His disciples on the Mount of Olives shortly before His ascension; He was asked by them if The Kingdom would be set up at that time. His answer? “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons.”
It was shortly thereafter that Jesus ascended into Heaven. Even then, the disciples simply stood there staring until two angels appeared and reminded them that they had work to do, and also that Jesus would return just as He had left. Read the whole story here.
Now on to the actual point of this article. This quote from the original article I read simply captured me and provided the jump off point for this article.
“Here’s what matters: Jesus is coming back. No one knows when. We have only today to be ready. Whether he raptures the church before (or during, or after) a Great Tribulation, or returns to begin the millennium, or simply returns to end history and begin eternity, is not the practical question. You and I have no say in the matter. We are on the preparation committee, not the planning committee. Our job is to be ready when he comes, however he comes.”
What, then, are we to be preparing for?
- We have a wedding to prepare for. Revelation 19:7-10 describes John’s vision of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It is here that The Lamb(Christ) will marry His bride, the Bride of Christ. We aren’t going to discuss here who is and is not the bride, as it’s really not important to this discussion. Verse 7, however does say “His wife hath made herself ready.” How are we to be making ourselves ready? These verses give us some clues.
- Ephesians 5:27 “Holy and without blemish.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 “A chaste virgin”
- We have a judgment to face. We all know the judgment of God will pass onto all unbelievers for their unbelief. Believers will be judged also. We will not be judged to determine our final destination; that determination is made only while we are still living. We will be judged to give an account of our lives and how we lived them for Jesus.
- Romans 14:10-12 teaches that we will all stand before The Judgment Seat and give an account.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 teaches the same thing.
- Revelation 22:12 Jesus told John He was coming quickly and bringing our rewards with Him.
- We have a world to evangelize. God has not left us here simply to enjoy ourselves. He wants us restored to him and that is why He patiently waits until His chosen time. See 2 Peter 3:9 for Peter’s teaching on this idea. Back in Acts 1, right after all of the questions on His return, Jesus had told them their mission was to “be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
There is a commonly quoted saying, “Some people are so Heavenly minded that they are no Earthly good.” Is that true for us? Are we so busy debating and considering the times, places and events surrounding the return of Jesus Christ that we have forgotten what the real issue is? He is returning, that is simply not debatable. The question is: Are we ready?
- Are you lost? If you are not saved, you are not ready. Repent today; turn from your sin. Accept Jesus’ payment for your sin and His role as Savior and Lord of your life.
- Are you saved? Remember what is coming. Are you preparing to be a good Bride? Will you be told “Well done, good and faithful servant” when you face Jesus? Are you reaching out to a lost and dying world with the Gospel?
May 18, 2017 at 09:03
Good mornin brother. 😃
There was a good point to be received here in your article. We shouldn’t divide and bicker over our differences over when the rapture will happen.
And you made the following statement…
Are you lost? If you are not saved, you are not ready. Repent today; turn from your sin. Accept Jesus’ payment for your sin and His role as Savior and Lord of your life.
You’re not suggesting that people have to turn from sin as a component of salvation are you?
I’m not going to assume you’re saying that, but perhaps it was a typographical error or something like that.
Anyhoo,
Good mornin to you. 😃
https://leeposkey.wordpress.com/2016/12/23/repentance/
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May 18, 2017 at 09:50
I am saying that repentance, faith and belief are all tied together, Lee. That is clear from scripture. The exact way that all works and any “order” in which they occur can be studied and we still may not know exactly how it works. But, yes, I am in fact saying that repentance is tied into the process. Part of a believing faith is to understand our sinful condition. Certainly repentance flows from that. Does repentance or even running from or sin save us? Well, of course not, as only grace through faith are we saved.
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May 18, 2017 at 10:14
I agree brother that repentance is definitely a component of salvation…turning to belief on Christ (away from) whatever one was previously trusting in.
But in the writing in your article, it appeared that you were saying that turning from sin was a component in one’s salvation.
Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying. Go back and re read it, and see if you are seeing what I was seeing, and holler back at me brother. Will ya? 😃👍
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May 18, 2017 at 10:24
Perhaps I will reframe my word choice, Lee. When I say “turn from,” I mean change ones mind, realize the state that we are in. I don’t mean one has to “do” anything.” Realizing one’s lost condition is a component, and part of salvation. I make no implication that a person has to somehow clean up to be saved. In fact, we would not even repent if God had not drawn us and given us the ability to do so.
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May 18, 2017 at 10:30
Amen brother😃
And I’m thankful for your friendship.
And I thank you for your kindness, 😃
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May 18, 2017 at 10:33
No prob! This is how we come to actually learn things from each other. If we kill the person we are talking too, then we sort of can no longer learn much from them right?
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May 18, 2017 at 10:36
That’s exactly right brother. I wasn’t intending to be discurteous to you.
And good mornin to you 😃
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May 18, 2017 at 10:38
Good morning back. Just another work day here, had a small down time, so did some blogging.
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May 18, 2017 at 09:07
A true pearl of wisdom:
“If our lives are full of study with no application, then it has been wasted time.”
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May 18, 2017 at 09:50
Thanks Don. We can certainly have a head full of stuff, and nothing flows from us. Then it’s just no good at all.
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May 18, 2017 at 09:29
Wally, As per a previous comment, there are those who want to make repentance a grace-defying work, but a person isn’t capable of receiving the free gift of salvation until they realize they are a lost sinner and turn to Christ. That’s repentance and it’s not a work. A person can’t be saved until they’ve changed their mind (repented) about their standing before God, understood their need for Christ, and accepted Him.
https://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html
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May 18, 2017 at 09:52
I agree totally, Tom. It’s not a work, and by itself will never save us. But, clearly repentance flows from the realization of our lost state. Without that change of mind, then our faith is really misplaced.
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May 18, 2017 at 10:02
Right, Wally. Otherwise it would be like a person accepting Christ totally out of the blue, without any understanding of their need for the Savior. Does not compute.
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May 18, 2017 at 10:06
And perhaps my wording didn’t help. I day turning from sin, and I am thinking the real meaning which is realization and agreeing with God. I actually don’t mean to do anything to make ourselves better, which is how some folks would take the words “turn” from it. Semantics sometimes trip us up.
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May 18, 2017 at 10:16
Yup, I agree some people might interpret “repenting” as trying to clean yourself up before accepting Christ, which causes the misunderstanding.
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May 18, 2017 at 11:16
Good mornin Tom.
Just to be clear on my position. We all come to faith in Christ as sinners needing life and mercy.
I hope that helps a little.
And good mornin to you. 😃
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May 18, 2017 at 11:33
Thanks, Lee. I’m sure we both believe in salvation by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone. After coming out of a works-righteousness religion, Catholicism, and accepting Christ, I would be the last person in the world to suggest that human effort plays any part in the free gift of salvation by grace through faith. Some Catholics who have commented on my posts have suggested that “accepting” the free gift is a work but that is getting into the absolute absurd.
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May 18, 2017 at 11:41
Ain’t that the truth?
People have different motives when they interact with us don’t they?
You can tell when someone has a kind spirit who just wants to legitimately dialogue about something with God’s love in their heart.
And you can tell when someone is trying to bait you into an argument. Or ramrod their views from an arrogant heart.
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May 18, 2017 at 13:02
Hi Wally, I like your comment about God is the one who draws us to Him and gives us the grace to repent. Repentance is a gift. I see it as the most beautiful love story-We turn to the One our soul is longing for. Great article and comments!
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May 18, 2017 at 13:23
Thanks for that addition, Patricia
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