Looking for the Rapture

                              Rapture

                                      Jesus Calls Us Home

Several years ago, I had a wonderful dream.  It struck me as one of those dreams that feels so real while you are in it, and makes you feel  delicious when you wake up.

My husband and I were sitting on a bench in a park somewhere, just enjoying the outdoors.  I remember the sensation of listening to the birds sing, the breeze blowing through the trees, and the warmth of my husbands hand.  The sound of a trumpet call broke through the atmosphere and it was the most beautiful sound my ears have ever heard.

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This was not the ordinary sound of any trumpet, this was a trumpet call that has never been heard before.  I listened to that call and thought, “This is it!”  I felt myself floating up into the air and turning around to see the whitest light I have ever seen.  It was so bright, brighter than the light of the sun, but it didn’t hurt my eyes to look directly at it.  I felt myself getting closer to my greatest heart’s desire, seeing my Savior face to face.  I said, “Yes, Lord, yes!”  and felt the sensation of rising higher and higher.  My heart became overwhelmed with pure joy, a greater joy than that of marrying my husband or giving birth to my two children.  Indescribable joy wrapped itself around me like the warmest blanket I have ever felt.

But it did not last.  I started coming closer to the earth, and as I descended the joy lifted away and I realized that this was not it.  I dreamt the entire experience.  When I opened my eyes, I realized that I was back to reality and disappointment filled my soul.  My first conscious thought was “We are still here.”

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 – 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 by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

That is the day that I am looking forward to, and the day that I am teaching Bear Bear and Super Stuffy to look forward to.  We talk often of heaven and what it will be like to hear that trumpet call.  We are all listening for that trumpet.  But at times I struggle with disappointment because we are still here.  I have studied prophecy for almost eight years (I’m a newbie) and have read and listened to many pastors talk about the rapture.  I believe that we are in the final generation and I am firmly convinced that Jesus will take us up within my lifetime.

My belief is not based on just wishful thinking.  Jesus said in Matthew 24: 32-34

Now learn a lesson from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things know that it is near – at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

If you read the entire chapter of Matthew 24, Jesus describes what will happen at the end.  “All these things…” references the things that Jesus had said previously.  We know from history that all those things did not happen to the generation that Jesus was talking to, so he must have been talking about a future generation.  Why am I so sure that we are in the last generation?

Because of convergence.  Convergence is all of the signs happening all at once.  The signs began to increase in intensity and frequency with the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.  That in itself was a fulfillment of prophecy.

Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, she delivered a male child.  Who has heard such a thing?  Who has seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?  Or shall a nation be born at once?  For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.

Isaiah 66:7-8

Israel was reborn on May 14, 1948 in one day.  The generation of people who saw the rebirth of the nation of Israel will not pass away until everything that Jesus said would happen takes place.

In the past 70 years, we have seen the fulfillment of prophecy ramp up.  Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, diseases, endless violence.  We have all seen it increase exponentially, even in the past ten years.  To add to that, Zechariah 12, Ezekiel 38, and Isaiah 17 are all on the cusp of coming to pass.  We are in the days of Noah and Lot, the last days of the earth.  But just as Enoch was taken away from the earth before the flood, and Lot was pulled out of Sodom before it was destroyed, the church will be snatched away before God’s judgment on a sinful world comes down.  Jesus promised us this:

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  Revelation 3:10

We cannot know the day or the hour but Jesus commanded us to know the season.  It is that season of Jesus’ return.  So how shall we live?  1 John 3:2-3 says:

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purified himself, just as He is pure.

Because I know that Jesus could come back at any minute and live with that expectation, it is a mighty motivation to live in a way that pleases the Lord.  We are to live with the joy and expectation of His coming.  However, that joy can be subdued at times.  Sometimes in my disappointment at still being on this sin sick world, the Lord reminds me of this verse.

1 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, , do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  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.

We are still here because of God’s grace and mercy.  He loves us so much that He wants to give time for as many people as possible to come to repentance.  While we wait, it is our responsibility to share God’s Word with the people around us.  We are to occupy until He comes to get us.

Are you ready for that day?  You do not want to be left on the earth after Jesus calls up His church.  It will, quite literally, be hell on earth.  As bad as it is today, these days will be considered the “good old days” during the time of the Tribulation.  If you are a believer in Jesus, share the Gospel as much as God gives you the ability.  If you do not believe, call on the name of the Lord today.  Time is running out.  Today is the day of salvation.