By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #64 ~
Just think, there will be an enormous number of people living in the end times who won’t ever get married, won’t ever have children, won’t ever live to the age of 40, won’t ever get old, won’t ever retire, or won’t ever physically die. That’s because Jesus Christ will return to this world and bring this present age to an end, suddenly interrupting and stopping the plans and “normal” activities of billions of people living on this earth.
The first thing to take place at Christ’s return is the rapture of the church. At that time, all Christians will be physically and forcefully removed from the earth, and be immediately taken to be with Christ. The rapture of the church will be one of the most climactic and dramatic events ever, a major turning point in the history of our world. For those of us on earth at Christ’s coming, it will be the most life-altering, body-changing, soul-exciting and God-glorifying event we will ever experience. Why can we say that?
The word rapture, from the Greek “harpazo”, refers to what physically happens to Christians living on earth at the return of Christ, but so much more will be taking place:
– When Christ returns you will get immediate relief from the great tribulation and persecution you are going through. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7
– When Christ returns you will be rescued from God’s punishing wrath, the devastating and deserved judgment of God to be poured out upon unbelievers. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
– When Christ returns you will finally rest from your work, from the blood, sweat and tears of living, laboring and lovingly sacrificing your life for the Lord. Revelation 14:13
– When Christ returns, your soul will be redeemed, quickly and safely delivered from this wicked world, and from your corrupt and sin prone body. Ephesians 1:14
– When Christ returns, you will perfectly and forever be glorified, for you will receive a brand new, powerful, immortal and spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
– When Christ returns, all believers from all time will be gathered together to Himself. How glorious this will be, for you will be joined with a great multitude of believers, and be shouting, celebrating and worshiping the Lord. Matthew 24:31
– When Christ returns, you will be joyfully reunited with loved ones and friends who have already died and gone on to heaven before you. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
– When Christ returns, you will be greatly rejoicing, pouring out praises to God for your salvation, for His gracious, infinite and eternal love for you. Revelation 7:9-10
– When Christ returns, you will be richly rewarded for your earthly service for God, for you will be given an imperishable and undefiled inheritance that you will have and enjoy forever and ever. 2 Timothy 4:8
– When Christ returns, you will be with Him! Can you imagine actually seeing and being with Jesus, your Lord, Savior and best Friend? How wonderful and exhilarating to finally see Him, “and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17, John 14:1-3
Raptured, relieved, rescued, resting, redeemed, glorified, gathered, reunited, rejoicing, rewarded, and with Jesus!! This is God’s promise and guarantee to you, what’s definitely going to happen when Christ returns. This is what God wants you to get excited about, to be looking forward to, and to be telling others. But the rapture, and all that goes with it, is just the very beginning. Right after the rapture, there’s the righteous wrath of God on earth, the salvation of some Jews, and Christ’s return to planet earth. Then begins the next age, a good age, a glorious 1000-year kingdom age when Christ will be personally ruling over the world, and you and I, with all the other glorified believers, will have the great honor and privilege of reigning with Him. Psalm 47; Revelation 5:10, 20:4
We now live in an evil age, a time when “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). But the evil one is like a dog on a leash, for he is reined in by God, the One who is sovereign over the devil and the entire world. Now in these last years of the end times, God is on the move, and every single day He is working with every single person, strategically and faithfully carrying out His eternal plan to bring His Son back to this earth. Don’t be sleeping or sinning. Be awake and alert, loving and trusting God, serving Him, making disciples, and waiting for your Savior. I hope you realize that Jesus is really looking forward to seeing you. Are you looking forward to seeing Him? The truth is that you will soon see Jesus – either you will physically die and see Him in heaven, or you will be alive on earth when He returns, and see Him triumphantly coming in the clouds.
“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 4:16-17, Job 19:25-27
P.S. For a more in depth look at the rapture I encourage you to read this article: 50 Truths God Wants You to Know About the Rapture.
P.P.S. You may have heard about someone predicting that Christ is coming back on April 23, 2018. That is not true!!! Please check out a previous post which clearly explains why this, and any date-setting teaching on the rapture, is false.