In the blink of an eye, the world is chaotic and uncertain. Imagine waking up one morning to find your baby missing from its crib, the streets empty, and none of your distant relatives answering their phones. There was nothing to warn or explain—just a hole where life used to be full of activity.

The day started like any other: the sun slowly rose over the sky and wrapped its warm arms around the earth. When the clock hit a terrible hour, people went missing. Not just a few but huge groups of people disappeared into thin air, leaving a wake of shock and fear. Families split up, friends desperately looking for each other, and officials stumbling over words to explain what they can't understand. Fear and doubt spread around the world like a scary melody as rumors of the Rapture spread through the air.

Getting Rapture Ready

Being left behind is terrifying. Void of all the comforts and sunk into the depths of misery. People in the streets wailing of pain, and buildings standing still as witnesses to the chaos. Towns once full of life are now covered in a blanket of loneliness. The survivors are filled with questions in the middle of all this disorder. How could millions of people disappear without a straightforward story or explanation? Why them and not me? What, even more horrifyingly, was waiting for us as the shadows of darkness got closer?

I don't want this story of being left behind to include you. Jesus desires everyone to meet Him in the clouds to escape His final wrath. Come with me as we examine the signs that the church's departure could be approaching faster than expected. Get ready for a trip through the depths of fear into a story of hope for all—Rapture ready!

Understanding the Rapture

If you aren't sure what the Rapture means, it is an event that hasn't occurred. Christians await this glorious day when Jesus will come in the air, catch up with the believers from the earth to meet Him in the clouds. Then immediately transport them to heaven. These folks will not experience a physical death on earth. Part of this promise is to receive glorious new bodies that are perfect in the twinkle of an eye. It is mindboggling to try to understand how this happens. Imagine a life with no hate, cruelty, sickness, sorrow, pain, tears, heartbreak, or death - forever. That is the eternal future for Christians.

The most famous bible verse to explain this rapture event is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This scripture clearly states that Jesus will come back, "the dead in Christ will rise first, then those of us alive on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord. We will be with him forever from that point on."

For transparency, there is an argument that the word Rapture isn't in the Bible. This causes people not to believe this event will occur. However, we are reading the English version, interpreted from Hebrew or Greek. Sometimes, words don't translate perfectly, like my name, Cheryl, to Spanish. There is no Spanish translation of my name. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the words caught up are from the root word harpazo, translated as rapturus in Latin. From this Latin word, we get the English word Rapture.

People are becoming interested in the Rapture again because of how chaotic and uncertain world events can be. Many people talk about end times when they see natural disasters, political unrest, technological progress, and global pandemics. Some try to predict the day and hour the world will end, but no one truly knows. The Bible is very clear about the danger of the last days and the need to be Rapture ready. If you are looking for a clue if we are getting closer, the dangers of the last days are evident in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be tough times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Signs of Last Days

When reading the description of what people will be like in the last days, there is an argument that people have been all these horrible things since the beginning. That would be very true. However, since 2020, the pandemic year, we have watched evil rise within groups of people, and the unforgiving, lack of self-control, and cruel nature are more evident now than ever before.

Rapture vs. Second Coming of Christ

Many people think the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ are the same event. Not even close. We already defined the Rapture; it occurs before the horrific seven-year Tribulation. Matthew 24:21 describes those years including astonishing suffering since the beginning of time, and it will never be that great again.

The second coming of Christ occurs after The Great Tribulation. Jesus comes riding in on a white horse with his army of saints behind Him. In the second coming, Jesus defeats the Antichrist, overthrows evil, and establishes His millennial kingdom. During this 1,000 years, he reigns the world from Jerusalem. There is peace. A human naps with a lion without fear of death or harm. Hopefully, I can ruffle some flamingo feathers – what a great photo op.

There are different groups living in the millennial kingdom. The Christians caught up in the air during the Rapture, and survivors from the Tribulation who continue to live on earth, working, getting married, and having children. They survive hundreds of years, just like people in the Old Testament. Death doesn't exist during the millennial kingdom because God binds up Satan. Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy, John 10:10, while Jesus came to give life.

You ask, what happens after the thousand-year reign? Satan receives authority by God one last time to deceive. Anyone choosing to follow Satan is thrown into the lake of fire forever – there is no hope for them. God then establishes a new heaven and earth where His followers reside for eternity. The story of evil ends.

Differing Views on the Timing of the Rapture

Many psychics try to predict the date and year the world will end. They continue to make fools of themselves because Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 that no one knows the day or hour, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son. Only the Father. Not only do people try to pinpoint the day, but beliefs among scholars and theologians differ about when the Rapture will occur.

Pre-tribulation rapture suggests the Rapture happens before the tribulation period begins, sparing believers from the coming hardships.

Mid-tribulation rapture conjectures it occurs in the middle of the Tribulation, after some trials have already happened but before the worst events unfold.

Post-tribulation rapture argues that the Rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation period, immediately before Christ's Second Coming.

Some sound arguments exist for the different timings, except when you read Revelation. This unfulfilled book of the Bible is a detailed list of events to come. The first few chapters are letters written to the seven churches. Then the word church appears 19 times in chapters 1-3, and not again until the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22. What happened to the church in the middle? She meets Jesus in the clouds to escape the wrath poured on evil for the last days, Revelation 4:1, another verse describing this harpazo event.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. Revelation 4:1

Rapture Signs According to Current Events

The word describes how nature, and the weather will respond in the last few days and what to expect from the nations.

Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." Luke 21:10-11

We continue to see the increasing global unrest, wars, and rumors of war. Natural disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes, and other storms are numerous and more robust.

Jesus declared that people would live as in the days of Noah. People lived the way they wanted in despicable ways, turning from God with immoral living. The Bible states they ate and drank, married, and were given in marriage until the day the flood came to wipe out all the evil living when God spared Noah and his family. They were extraordinarily corrupt but weren't concerned about their sin. Ironically, God sent a warning through Noah. God gave Noah 100 years to build a massive arc when the rain had never fallen on the earth. This story spread like wildfire since no one had seen a raindrop before Noah built a boat. Unfortunately, the people mocked Noah's purpose given to him by God, and they all perished.

We are living in those times when Christians are warning others about unfilled biblical prophecy, and we are getting mocked, shut down, and, in some countries, killed. The moral and societal decay is swift, and keeping up with the news stories isn't easy.

Lastly, the technological advancements will allow the Antichrist to control what the public will buy and sell, as declared in Revelation 13:17. These advancements include tracking your purchases, managing your travel through Digital ID, a cashless society to control digital currency, and surveillance to ensure you are on lockdown for the next mandated pandemic.

Christian's Response to the Signs of the Rapture

Our first response to the end-times prophecy can't be fear. Jesus came to die a brutal death on the cross for us to save us from our sins. We have hope now; through faith, we know where we will be when the world runs at light speed to love evil more.

Stay close to your Christian friends who believe the Bible is true. Avoid religious-focused, traditional beliefs that distract you from Jesus. Stay spiritually alert by reading the Word of God, praying daily, and staying in the know so you can prepare for the trouble we will experience until the day Jesus returns.

The most important thing isn't having an educated timeframe for when the Rapture will take place. It is being ready when He comes because we don't know when and must be prepared at any moment.

If you aren’t ready for the Rapture for believers, Jesus is waiting for you to open your heart. It is as simple as humbling yourself, recognizing your sin, repenting, and asking Jesus to come into your heart. Pray this prayer of salvation and be ready to meet Jesus in the clouds. If you follow Jesus today, I would love to hear about it; send me an email, and I will help you take the next steps on your new journey to peace.

Meet you in the clouds,

Cheryl (C-Dub)

FLOCK TO WORSHIP

P.S. Enjoy this song for encouragement that relates to this post.