The Rapture

The Rapture

Hey folks, welcome to a special Thursday edition of TAG. I really feel like I need to address this. If you have been on ANY Social Media as of late, you have been told by some “Biblical Scholars,” “Pastors,” or “Children of God” that the Rapture is about to happen.

Folks, people are truly believing this. To the point of selling all they have, stopping paying bills, working, just basically giving up all to stand somewhere and look to the sky, awaiting our LORD to return.

First, it was October 6th. Nothing happened. Oh, wait, October 7th. Nothing happened. Would you believe October 8th? Nothing happened. So now I understand that some are now saying October 24th, or maybe the 25th. Guess what. Nothing is going to happen then either. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to learn the truth according to you. There is a lot of misinformation going around in the world, as you warned us there would be. Please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your truth in this manner. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

If anyone, and I mean anyone, tells you they know the day or the time, they are lying. How can I be so sure? Because no one can know. God said so. Want proof? The entire chapter of Matthew 24 is a good place to start. Let's focus on Verse 36-39

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Stop. NO ONE knows except for God the Father. Even when Jesus, this is who is talking, even when Jesus was in the flesh, He did not know, because the flesh serves the world. Are you following?

“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

What does this mean? Does it mean everyone sells or gives away their stuff and walks out into the field and waits for Jesus? No. Jesus explains more clearly.

“For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:36-39

People will simply be living their lives. Then it will happen. On a normal, nothing special Tuesday. Or perhaps a Monday, Thursday? Truth is, it could be today. However, it will not be while everyone is waiting and looking for it.

Jesus also told us this.

“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen.” Revelation 16:15, Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

No one knows. If anyone tells you that they know the hour or the day, they are lying to you. Even if they mean well, they are lying to you. If Jesus did not know while HE was in the flesh, then how does someone else, anyone, know? Are they greater than our Lord? Of course not.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus made this statement as the rich ruler. “Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ What Jesus is telling us here is that we should continue to live our lives, as children of God, we should continue to invest in the Kingdom, sharing the Gospel, telling the Truth, sowing the seed, and showing the way until? He returns.

If you so choose, turn to Titus 2, starting at verse 11

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,”

Who is that? Jesus.

“training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

In case there was any doubt.

“who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Will Jesus return? YES! Absolutely. He even told us what He is doing between leaving and returning. He said this.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.” John 14:3

If you are a child of God, Jesus is returning for you. When the time comes, you will be with Him. God’s timing. Not some “influencer,” or Joe Schmoe on social media. God alone.

Now, what about this other thing that I heard making the rounds? Jesus already returned secretly, but don’t worry, He will be back.? I do not even know where people get this stuff. When this happens, do not worry. You will not miss it.

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” Revelation 1:7

If you have to, read that again. “Every eye will see him.” It will not be a secret. Again, this is Jesus talking.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31

Does this sound like a secret happening? No. It will be quite impossible for you to miss this. It is the end of the world as we know it. You are not going to wake up, walk out, and everything will be gone. You will be part of it.

Paul issues this warning to all of us, led by the Spirit.

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;”

Be the child of God that God calls you to be.

“But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” Romans 2:6-8

For us, we should be looking for Jesus’s return. For those who are not His children, it will not be a happy time. Either way? You will not miss it.

Please, do not quit your job, sell or give away everything you have, and say, you no longer have to worry, because our Lord will return on this day. Please do not follow those who say Christ is here, or He is there. Or that He already came.

As with all things, please follow what the Creator says. Stop listening to the creature. Believe it or not, He really does know more than we do. I know, right? Think about this. Jesus tells us plainly.

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Follow what He says. Occupy until He comes. Live your life, invest in the Kingdom, and look for His return in the meantime.

“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:11

Of course, if you are not His, then this is indeed a scary and dark time coming. Do you want the assurance? Do you want peace? Do you want to not doubt that Jesus is preparing a place for you and will come again to receive you? Say this prayer. Right now, in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus' sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent of my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Matthew, Chapter 24

Matthew 24

Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. or many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.