Rapture Shock

Three things will mark the Rapture of the true church;

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven

1. with a shout, 
2. with the voice of an archangel,
3, 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.

Rapture Resources

The Rapture will be a Joint in Time

The Rapture will be Irresistible

The world population is now 8055 million people. Of these only 340 million (4%) live in the United States.
The population of heaven (New Jerusalem) could be 2 billion people, or so. Will there not be a big adjustment required?

Speculation about living together in New Jerusalem:

Education Levels
Language Skills
Bible Knowledge
Relationship Healing
Worship
Body Life
Liaison with the 144 Thousand
Spiritual Warfare
The Mezzanine Duties

The sudden, abrupt removal by Jesus of His church from the world is an event which will happen soon in history. It’s in the plan and timing of God. The date of the Rapture is unannounced, but God’s people can know the times they live in which signal this event as imminent. That abrupt removal of the true church by Jesus is popularly called the "Rapture of the church."

(Greek, harpagisometha, from harpazo. The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek ἁρπαγησόμεθα as rapiemur meaning "we are caught up" or "we are taken away" from the Latin verb rapio meaning "to catch up" or "take away.") Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians give details about the catching up of the Bride of Christ by her Bridegroom, Jesus. The Church Jesus is now building is also called "the Body of Christ"--a masculine symbol.

The date of the Rapture is not given in the New Testament. It’s been imminent for twenty centuries. The Rapture could take place today.  If it had taken place a hundred years ago, you and I would have missed out. The current delay is to allow adding in the final few of the church-age elect to come into the family.

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming (parousia) 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.“ (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11)

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with his appearing (epiphaneia) and His coming (parousia).

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.“ (2 Thessalonians 2)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:50-57)

When Jesus Christ steps back into our space-time domain, all present-day followers of Jesus will be living on earth in their old bodies.

The number of followers of Christ alive on the earth at the time of the Rapture could easily exceed several billion persons! See,

Citizens of New Jerusalem.

Demographics of the world population

As noted, vast number of men, women, and children are members of the church Jesus has been building. from the First Century until now. That number could easily number at least 10 billion persons. They will come from every tribe and nation--each will arrive at the same “time” (according to earth time.) Each will have his or her new resurrection body. Only about 4% of earth's residents are from America. We weren't around at all until about 400 years ago. The true church dates back to Pentecost, AD 30. Radical though the Rapture will be for followers of Christ, we probably won't be missed. Those left behind (90% of the total?) will have much to worry about as the false messiah shows up for the following seven years. The Rapture is a strategic move by God--an act of great mercy actually.

Before we, who are living on earth at the time, are able to react to meeting Jesus in person, we’ll be given our new bodies and join our predecessors in Christ. Jesus will catch us all into THE Cloud. This "Cloud" could well be the Shekinah cloud of glory one sees in Exodus.

The Christians now alive on planet earth is a motley bunch! We have to be made ready. See Rapture Prep. Radical life style changes characterize New Jerusalem. The transition to New Jerusalem will be smooth and effortless for those Christians who are walking with God daily. But for others many major life-style changes lie ahead. To see where you fit in see The Church Papers.

"...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." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

The meeting of Jesus and His own ("in the air") takes place above the surface of the earth, in the lower atmosphere en route to New Jerusalem. See A City in Space.

A great filter, a sorting out, an entrance exam awaits all members of the true Church, ready or not! Very few of those now alive, (who know Jesus)--very few of us are ready! Is the Rapture Now on Hold?

In regard to the Timing of the Rapture, we have not been given the exact date from the reference point of an observer living on earth. "Date Setting" has proven disastrous more than once in past two millennia. But a definite date exists on God's calendar. The Rapture could happen today.

A discontinuity in time takes place when a follower of Jesus Christ dies. This can be seen, for example, in the martyrdom of Stephen in the First Century. It is our present, fallen bodies which anchor us to earth time, earth's clocks. At death we step out of time into eternity and time travel so as to arrive at the rapture, all of us at the same time. Some Christians will be alive when the Rapture occurs in earth's time reference:

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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. (died) 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

A World Made for Romance If you learned about Eden in Sunday school, with poster board and flannel graphs, you missed something. Imagine the most beautiful scenes you have ever known on this earth—rain forests, the prairie in full bloom, storm clouds over the African savanna, the Alps under a winter snow. Then imagine it all on the day it was born. It's Tolkien's Shire in its innocence, Iguassu Falls in the garden of The Mission, the opening scene of The Lion King. And it doesn't stop there. Into this world God opens his hand, and the animals spring forth. Myriads of birds, in every shape and size and song, take wing—hawks, herons, warblers. All the creatures of the sea leap into it—whales, dolphins, fish of a thousand colors and designs. Thundering across the plains race immense herds of horses, gazelles, buffalo, running like the wind. It is more astonishing than we could possibly imagine. No wonder "the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). A great hurrah goes up from the heavens! We have grown dull toward this world in which we live; we have forgotten that it is not normal or scientific in any sense of the word. It is fantastic. It is fairy tale through and through. Really now. Elephants? Caterpillars? Snow? At what point did you lose your wonder at it all? Even so, once in a while something will come along and shock us right out of our dullness and resignation. We come round a corner, and there before us is a cricket, a peacock, a stag with horns as big as he. Perhaps we come upon a waterfall, the clouds have made a rainbow in a circle round the sun, or a mouse scampers across the counter, pauses for a moment to twitch its whiskers, and disappears into the cupboard. And for a moment we realize that we were born into a world as astonishing as any fairy tale. A world made for romance. John Eldredge

You have Come to New Jerusalem Already!

If you know Jesus, you have already come to New Jerusalem.
That's not obvious yet, because your present old body is already dead.

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire,
and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words,
so that those who heard it  begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 

(For they could not endure what was commanded: 
“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 
And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven,
to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that  of Abel.

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks.
For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we  not  escape 
if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 
whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 
“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 
Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken,
as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace,
by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 
For our God is a consuming fire. ' (Hebrews 12:18-29)

The One Hundred Forty Four Thousand

Perhaps 10% of the people living at the time of the Rapture know Jesus.
They will all be caught up in the Rapture.
That leaves the "Left Behind" majority down on earth.

Vigorous evangelism by the 144 Thousand will then being many millions to Christ.
This is a Post-Rapture event
These converts from every nation will not be added to the Church

Our Sovereign God

“But concerning the times (chronos) and the seasons (kairos) brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-13)

God in sovereignty does what He pleases, with the Big Picture in view. He also acts with maximum mercy and forbearance. This is balanced greatly because He is the moral governor of the cosmos as well. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus announced to His disciples, His family and His friends that He would be leaving them but would sent them power and strength in the Person of God the Holy Spirit. This was to their advantage because He would be available everywhere 24/7 instead of being limited to showing up at individual gatherings of His followers. No one knew at the time that Jesus would be visibly gone for 2000+ years.

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, Jesus was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11)

When He does return, Jesus will return in military power and might. All the evidence at hand suggests He will be back very soon.

“Now I (John the Apostle) saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Meanwhile we can not expect any interim changes for the better down here! In fact, things will get far worse down here, especially after the Rapture. We are safe only “in Christ.” Without God’s restraint against evil, life on earth will become way more violent and out of control.

God is not impressed with our religion or even our good behavior. Our self efforts to placate Him don't count. Since Adam and Eve, Jesus has sought to know people intimately and personally. Knowing Jesus is Number One. “How then Shall We Live" is Item Two. God is Way More Personal than you Think.

Look at what Jesus said, (Luke 12):

“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

Many preachers, reporters, concerned citizens and members of the general public are shocked these days by the morning news. Fear and apprehension are poured out on us daily from all the media outlets and from most pulpits as well. But we are actually commanded to focus on the coming cosmic invasion Jesus is about to bring about. We are to leave the fate of the earth in His hands and obey Him daily. That will allow Jesus to protect His own and get us safely to our destination.

The Greek verbs below are in the imperative.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

During His last momentous week in Jerusalem before His murder Jesus told everyone,

“...as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, Jesus said, “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’

Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.” (Luke 21:5-19)

Preaching gloom and doom is not what Jesus asks us to be occupied with in the interim. In fact we have been told to focus on other subjects entirely! Sadly, many Christians are hoping and praying for revival. Such an intervention from God is highly unlikely!

C.S. Lewis said,

“God is going to invade this earth in force. But what's the good of saying you're on his side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else, something it never entered your head to conceive comes crashing in. Something so beautiful to us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left. This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love, or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down, when it's become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realize it or not. Now, today, in this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever; we must take it or leave it.”

Life after the Rapture will be intense. This event will not be merely about dying, going to heaven, and receiving merit badges from Jesus. The gate into heaven which will open when Jesus returns for His own is a narrow gate as Jesus warned,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-15)

When the Rapture happens at a date on the calendar, Jesus will first raise from the dead all who have known Him since Pentecost. He will then pick up those of us who are alive on the planet on the day. The total number will be several billion men, women, boys and girls. Those who died previously left time and entered eternity when they died. Each Christian time-travels to the Rapture event. Jesus Himself will meet the whole ensemble. Each passes through the Judgment Seat of Christ on the way in the door. For some followers of Jesus the transition will be easy, for others quite radical.

It is possible that 10% of Earth’s current 8 billion residents know Jesus now. They are already citizens of the heavenly city of New Jerusalem. It is this group who will be caught up in the Cloud at the Rapture when Jesus reenters. This group is called the “Bride of Christ.” They are scheduled for an incredible role alongside Jesus in the ages to come. World population has been soaring for the past three generations. (A "generation" in the Bible is 40 years. Men, women, boys and girls have been added to the true church for 50 generations.

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

The major point is that compromised followers of Jesus--most of us who are alive today--face a huge transition in life style at the Rapture. City Life living together with Jesus in community will be glorious, but will stretch each of us to the max at every level of our being. Of course everyone will have his or her perfect new body then and will have passed the Bema (Judgment Seat of Christ) evaluation on the way home. You can't take any old baggage with you into God's pristine heaven.

Ray Stedman anticipated this in a message half a century ago:

Be Encouraged! Jesus is at the Helm

To get the most out of life it is important for each of us, young or old, to give Jesus Christ our full attention. He is running things and we aren’t. We are only house guests in His universe!

“Now when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”

And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”

So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
(Luke 17:20-37)

A young friend of mine, an evangelist, noted recently that many different postings were appearing daily, all pointing to Jesus, but each in a different way. Immediately I thought of these Living Stones. I replied, "The Church that Jesus Christ has been building for two millennia is made up of living stones (us). All hand fitted, Each important, each unique."

My main concern is for that special group of people (the ekklesia, A Glorious Church) whom God has called out of this lost world to be a new kind of family, a new community which is all His own:

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-10)

In other words, God is not saving the world and He is not busy fixing society. His main work is focused right now on a special minority--He is nurturing a small group of people on the earth today who are connected way down deep inside--to Jesus Christ the Lord. This group is the family of God--those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God through their trust in Jesus Christ. These few--a godly remnant--constitute the very temple of God. Get ready to make a lot of new friends.

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Homework

Joints in Time

The Ruthlessness of God || Accidents and Disasters: Does God Care? || No Such Thing as Chance || Matters of Death and Life || Entitled

Watch! || Revival? No! || The Bema Starts Now || Aspects of the Return of Jesus || Is The Rapture on Hold? || God is Way More Personal than you Think

The Wife of Jehovah, The Bride of Christ || The Seven Churches in New Jerusalem || The Management of the Universe

The Glorious Church || The Rapture and the Second Coming || Some Notes about Heaven | By What Authority? || New Jerusalem City Limits

Music

On Jordan's Stormy Banks || Fifty Miles of Elbow Room || Marching to Zion

One Fine Day (Marie Callas) || It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow || Down to the River to Pray

O Come, O Come Immanuel || A Glorious Church || I Sing the Mighty Power of God 

Jesus, The Light of the World || Soon and Very Soon

Does It Not Seem as Though We Live in a Twilight Zone?

by Jonathan Brentner

I often feel as though I have ventured into an episode of The Twilight Zone. Rod Serling began his television series in 1959 and those familiar with the show remember Serling's sense of dystopian fiction that stretched the limits of our imaginations. Who can forget the iconic scenes, plot twists, and bizarre endings?

Life today seems like something that even goes beyond what Rod Serling envisioned for his broadcasts. There's a vast disconnect between reality and the popular truth that confronts us daily on the mainstream news and social media (via the fact checkers). It makes my head spin!

It's dystopian fiction at its best, but this time it's not a TV show depicting a make-believe world; the lies are portrayed as reality and readily believed by mainstream media addicts.

Janet Yellen, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, recently bragged about the health of America's economy. This is gaslighting at its best. Soaring food, fuel, and natural gas prices have stretched many people, especially those on fixed incomes, well beyond their breaking point. And the current crisis in America is just the beginning of the turmoil that many predict will grow steadily worse. 

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned about a coming “economic hurricane” for later this year. He is just one of many voices warning of the coming economic storm for the United States.

I could cite many other examples of where today’s messages on the mainstream and social media do not line up with reality. Some call it “gaslighting” and it’s surely all that. I like the term “dystopian fiction” as a description of the wide gulf between the “popular line” and reality that’s become the fog of living in this Twilight Zone.

The Fog of the Twilight Zone Invades the Church

Walking into many churches today is also like entering a Twilight Zone. There we hear a message that life is all good and we can experience our “best life now.”Five-year plans are made without even a fleeting thought of Jesus’ imminent appearing or the dark threatening clouds on the horizon.

It’s like a church shrouded in fog so that it’s unaware of the outside world and the many prophetic signs telling us that we live in the last days. 

I am reminded again of Kari Jobe’s song: Amen (Simple Gospel). It begins with wonderful words affirming the Gospel, but ends with a false message of hope, which exemplifies the disconnect with reality that we find in far too many churches today. 

The words below come from the last stanza of her song:

The church will arise
With power and love
Our cities will know
The glory of God
The future is bright
There's nothing to fear
Revival is now
The Kingdom is here

Such sentiment sounds great, but it’s not what the Bible teaches. 

First, the song makes the church the object of our hope rather than Jesus. Many today believe that the church will so change the world that it, not Jesus, will initiate the millennium. The Lord thus returns afterward rather than before this time of peace.

Even pastors that reject such teaching communicate a message exalting the church as our refuge during perilous times.

Second, the words quoted above from the song do not agree with what the Bible says about the day in which we live. Biblical prophecy pictures the last days as being awash in lawlessness, deception, extreme wickedness, corruption, and violence. This is today, and it’s all leading to the rule of the antichrist.

The words to the song tell us that “the future is bright.” However, I live in a country that’s screaming for God’s judgment. A nation led by fanatical advocates of abortion up to birth and all that the LBGTQ stands for surely invites a stern response from God. 

Adding fuel to the fire, Biden recently advocated the dividing of Jerusalem and a radical two-state solution for Israel with 1969 boundaries that will leave the nation defenseless against its foes. 

So far, the Lord has been remarkably patient with the U.S.

Jesus’ Imminent Appearing is the Reason for Our Gloriously Bright Future

Our future is glorious and bright, however, solely because of Jesus’ imminent appearing.

The myriad of signs pointing to the approaching seven-year Tribulation tell us that Jesus is coming for us soon. We live on the cusp of the Lord fulfilling His promises to us in passages such as John 14:1-3, Philippians 3:20-21, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

The Rapture signifies a bright future for us; it marks the beginning of an eternal and amazing adventure for us.

Sadly, many saints today never hear any mention of the over-the-top joy and excitement ahead for them. It's a truly glorious message!

A sound biblical outlook on what lies ahead yields unexplainable and wonderful peace within us. I cannot imagine getting up each morning to face this world without the eternal perspective we see throughout Scripture. The world is a scary place, but an understanding of biblical prophecy yields the fruit of peace deep within us.

We live in the season of Jesus' appearing to take us home to heaven. It's not about date-setting, but about understanding the multitude of signs God gave us in His Word that reveal the nearness of the Rapture.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees who did not recognize the signs that their Messiah stood in their presence (Matthew 16:1-4). Would not the Lord have a similar reprimand for church leaders today who remain oblivious to all the indications that the Tribulation period is rapidly approaching?

We will certainly not endure the wrath of God that the apostle John describes for us in Revelation 6-18. However, because of the day in which we live, we must be ready for perilous times ahead before Jesus whisks us up to the place that He’s preparing for us.

Or then again, the Lord could come for us today!

Maranatha!!

My book, The Triumph of the Redeemed, lays a solid biblical foundation for why we can approach the perilous times in which we live with joyous hope. The book explains the basis for our amazing and wonderful expectation of meeting Jesus in the air before the time of wrath that's coming upon the world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

If you have not yet ordered my book, please consider doing so. It’s available on Amazon.

Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/. It will greatly help me in reaching more people. Thanks