RAPTURE: FACT OR FICTION?

When the last trump sounds, are you ready to
meet the Lord in the air? Image credit: CBN.com

Can it get any worse than this? A grim picture of the days to come.

As the corona virus pandemic escalates—yes, worldwide—will our sheltering, physical distancing and face-mask days ever end?

With many businesses dead or gasping for air, will unemployment—thus increased criminality—be our daily fare?

In the Philippines, neighbors are warning each other: Bolt your gates. Be extra-extra cautious in public places. Scammers and criminals have risen in number. Once hailed as heroes, our OFWs have returned in droves, mere statistics among the ranks of the unemployed.

Americans' sense of prosperity, peace and security has been rocked not only by this pandemic but also by violence. With just a few months before elections in November, many warn of more destabilization by leftists.

And more: Unrest and increased defiance of authories in many other countries. Earthquakes and natural disasters becoming more frequent.

What on earth is happening?

Don't be alarmed, the bible says.

Are we already in the great tribulation which Jesus Himself talked about in Matthew 24? In verse 12, He says, “Lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold...”

In Luke 21:11, He spoke of earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven.

These things will come to pass, yet Jesus assures us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me,” John 14:1. What assurance! But why does He say this?

Have you studied bible prophesies? If you do, you'll soon realize that almost all—except the “end-of-days-events” which Jesus talked about in Matthew 24, and which He revealed to John in the island of Patmos (Revelations)—have come to pass.

“The bible accurately foretells specific events—in detail—many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur; and of the 2,500 bible prophecies, about 2,000 have already been fulfilled to the letter, with no error,” writes “Reasons to Believe” author Hugh Ross, an astronomer who has made it his life mission to prove that “science and the bible are allies, not enemies”.

Of the 44 prophecies about Jesus in the old testament, all have been fulfilled. It is this same Jesus who promised in Revelations 3:10, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

Most bible scholars agree that the “hour of trial” refers to the seven-year tribulation, the horrors of which the world has never experienced before; and that the words “keep you from the hour of trial” is the rapture, the experience of being caught up or taken away—saved from the prophecied seven years.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so we shall ever be with the Lord.”

God saved Noah and his family from the great flood which killed entire humanity. Archeological finds have confirmed the authenticity of this event.

Biblical characters Elijah and Enoch were themselves caught up in the air and were “no more”.

Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection.

God is powerful. He loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus to save from our sins. How could the rapture be laughed at by others as just a myth or a fairy tale if Jesus Himself revealed it and everything which He taught was true? Millions of changed lives all over the world would attest to that!

Is anything too impossible for God?

Man's pride/self-centeredness, aka sin, has turned our world into a madhouse—where right has become wrong and vice versa; where science and godlessness are praised and God is shunned.

But whether people believe or not, God is still God. He is still seated on His throne. And He will take us—rebellious, hardheaded dust—to account.

Jesus is the way back to Him! If we do return, we become His adopted children.

So let today be the day of your salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Prayer: Jesus, I repent. Save me from my sin. The world has indeed gotten worse by the day. Save us from the worst still to come. Help me to understand your Word that I may walk in faith and obey Jesus all the days of my life. Amen.