As a child my first encounters with the idea of the rapture were through teachings at church and “Left Behind” movies. As a result I approached the subject with much fear and trepidation, some was the fear of the unknown and much was the fear of being left behind and unprepared. As I matured, I realized that the catching away of the saints (hence where we derive the Latin word raptus, and the English word rapture) is not designed to elicit fear, but more like an exciting time of a bride being united with her husband. Jesus is the Husband, and the church is the Bride of Christ. Repentance (break- up with our past), baptism in Jesus’ name (name & authority exchange) and being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (engagement ring, Jesus loved it so He put a ring on it) causes us to be the bride of Christ.
It is amazing how a book that is dismissed as archaic and out of date is congruent with what we see on our evening news; including Middle East tension, earthquakes, disease and everything else prophesied in Matthew 24. The stage is set for the return of Jesus Christ. This blog is not going to turn into an eschatological bible study (a subject that I am completely intrigued by I must admit), but I want to address the response to the end times.
I expect the secular world to decline morally, for wrong to be interpreted as right, for the bible to be dismissed and discredited, for earthquakes, famines, and natural disasters to be described as simply scientific occurrences. You don’t need a theology degree to determine the magnitude and sensitivity of the current time, almost everyone in sacred and secular circles will conclude that “something” is on the verge of occurring. Just as Paul told Timothy, in the last days perilous times will come. In essence the secular world is doing its job, but I am uncertain if the church is shining as bright as it could in this hour as we approach the evening time.
Very seldom if ever do I hear churches & ministries discuss the rapture. If it is discussed, very rarely is it depicted as a connection between a husband (Jesus) & His bride (church). I am completely convinced the church must be holistic in it’s approach and deal with a plethora of issues, including, faith, family, finances, relationships, spiritual, mental, and physical, health, but ultimately we must include the rapture, the eternal hope that the church awaits. I would much rather be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist, as a religious fanatic than to be silent and not encourage everyone I know to solidify a relationship with Jesus Christ. In our current culture, everyone has the courage to express themselves with boldness, it’s time for church to do the same thing with love and courage. I conclude by reciting the sentiments of Paul, a man who was far from perfect much like myself, has a checkered past, is a misfit, but after being transformed by God and placed in unprecedented and uncanny situations and scenarios said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation.”
