How to Be Rapture Ready

Since COVID, I have noticed an increasing interest in biblical prophecy, and I share this interest as well. It is exciting to see what is happening around the world, and how the pieces are falling into place just as the Bible states they will. Included in this excitement is the belief that the rapture of the Church is getting close. Again, I share this belief. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture; it makes the most biblical sense to me when compared to other views of the end-times. The world events taking place as the Bible predicts means that the second return of Jesus Christ is getting close, which means the rapture is even closer. However, I do see some negative trends amongst some who ascribe to this view.

For some in this camp, the return of Jesus is so imminent that they believe there is nothing that can be done to resist the evils that are going on around us. It is unstoppable, so let’s just hunker down and take whatever comes our way, and even to look forward to things getting worse because that makes the rapture even more imminent. The problem with this mindset is, what if the rapture does not happen right away?

The belief in a pre-trib rapture carries with it the idea of imminence. It can happen at any time; nothing has to proceed it. This means that, yes, the signs of the end are coming at an increasing rate and, yes, this means the end is drawing near; however, that doesn’t automatically mean the rapture will happen tomorrow. Jesus could rapture the Church today, tomorrow, or 20 years from now. What if the rapture does happen 10-20 years from now? Think of all the time wasted hunkering down. Some may object, stating that there is no way we have 20 years, but if we don’t know the day or the hour, we cannot possibly know we don’t have 20 years. If you were to ask me my opinion, I do not believe we have 20 years, but truthfully, I don’t know. We don’t know how much time we have. That is why it is important to be ready.

This brings us to the question of what should we be doing? Jesus told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20) This making disciples of all nations should be our primary goal as Christians, and if we are not seeking to do this, we are missing the mark. We want to see as many persons come to faith in Jesus Christ as we can before the rapture takes place. However, this idea of making disciples in all nations is more than preaching the Gospel for a person’s salvation. Yes, that is first and foremost, but it also includes teaching them “to observe all things that I have commanded you,” meaning we are to teach them the word of God. We do this so that they will turn into mature Christians, and make a difference in their families, communities, and their nation. The word of God touches on every important area of our lives, including that of human government and the importance of making godly laws. The Lord told us to occupy (do business) until He comes, so we are to go to work, school, or spend our leisure time with His return in mind, and to be salt and light while we do. The Lord uses each of us in His own unique and sovereign way, and we are to stand for truth wherever He has us.

Closely related to this is the belief that there will not be a major revival before the rapture. I have written on this before, but it is a belief that is becoming more and more popular. This belief is held by many well-meaning people whom I hold a great deal of respect for, but nonetheless, I disagree with that belief. The truth is, we really don’t know if there will be a revival or how big it will be. The rapture is the game-changer, folks! Until then, I do not believe the Lord will allow the globalists to have complete control. However, we still may suffer under tyrannical rulers; just ask the Chinese who have lived under communist rule for decades.

The Scriptures I keep coming back to are 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 2 Peter 3:9, which state, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” And, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Yes, the passage in 2 Chronicles relates to God’s covenant with the Jewish people, but I believe the principles taught are consistent throughout the entire Scriptures. Therefore, they still apply to the Church today. If the Lord is willing that none should perish, then why wouldn’t He respond if we as the Church humbled ourselves, prayed and sought His face, and turned from our wicked ways. Peter is even stating the Lord delays His return in order for Him to allow more souls to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. There are a lot of godly Churches left in our nation, but the American Church at large is backslidden and needs revival before it can reach a lost and dying world. Maybe the Lord will allow our country to experience a severe form of judgment, and that will be what awakens and purifies the Church. However, it does not have to be this way. We do not have to wait until things get really bad before we earnestly seek the Lord. Let’s do it now!

The problem with believing there is nothing we can do to stop the onslaught of evil or see a significant revival keeps us from earnestly praying for it. I believe this is a deception of the enemy that has crept into the Church, and we need to counter it with the truth of the word of God. Evil does not happen because God wants it to; in fact, because of His holy nature, we know He does not want it to happen. He permits it at times because of man’s free will, and uses it for His ultimate good. Rather, He wants us to pray for our leaders so it will go well for us. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:1-4) James also writes, : The effective,

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fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16) Those who believe there is no use praying since things will only get worse, I believe, are failing to take into account all the Scriptures and the character and heart of the Lord toward His people. God still governs in the affairs of men today. Sometimes, He delivers us through suffering, and sometimes, He delivers us out of it. It is only up to us to pray in faith for His will to be done.

As it relates to revival, if we do not see a spiritual awakening, it is because we haven’t sought it. No, we will not change the prophetic time-table, but I do not see anything in Scripture that indicates there cannot or will not be a significant revival before the rapture. I believe the great Falling Away that must happen before the Lord’s return is ultimately fulfilled in the tribulation, either because the Great Falling Away is itself the rapture, or because the restraining force of the Holy Spirit working through the Church will be gone. This will allow the global elites who are under the control of the devil to mostly have their way for a time, but only for a time. The framework for the one-world government and the antichrist system will not go away; for the devil has to have everything ready for that seven-year time for which he does not know when it will occur. If this is really the end, then the world is quickly headed for judgment, but if it’s not, then the Lord can put the globalist agenda on hold until He is ready. So, until the rapture happens, we have more time to reach the lost and make a difference in our communities. We need to be as the 10 wise virgins with our lamps trimmed and full of oil. This means we are full of the Holy Spirit, and we are ready to share the light of Christ with others.

Somewhere between one quarter and one third of the Bible is prophecy, so to reject or otherwise ignore prophecy is to reject or ignore a significant portion of the Bible. On the flip side of that coin, to only focus on or over-emphasize prophecy is to ignore or down-play the other two thirds to three fourths of the Bible. Without a doubt, these are exciting times we live in, but I believe we still need to have this excitement grounded with all of God’s word in order to become stable and mature Christians. If we are unstable and immature believers, we will be less effective, ineffective, or maybe even hinder  the Lord’s work. So, Let’s look forward to and tell others of the Lord’s soon return, but at the same time, occupy or do business while He is returning.