I hear Christians nod and acknowledge that Christ will return all the time. However, all too often, these same Christians do not believe that time is at hand. Or it's years into the future.
Couldn't possibly be "right at the door."
My question is... why not? Christ taught that His Rapture was imminent. We know this because of the parable of the 10 virgins he gives in Matthew 25:1-13. Five were ready and waiting, five had allowed the oil to run out of their lamps. They knew the time was soon when the groom would arrive, so they ran off to the market to buy more oil. But when they were gone, the groom came, entered in, and shut the door, leaving the foolish virgins out in the cold.
Christ told us to always be ready and look for the signs, so that day should not overcome us like a thief. (1 Thess 5:1-11) We know Christ was speaking of a pre-Trib Rapture because according to Daniel 12:11-12, you will KNOW the exact day Christ's Second Coming (a separate event) from the day of the Abomination of Desolation. 1290 days. 45 days later, at 1335 days, Christ sets up His millennial Kingdom.
So if we are always to be ready, what makes these Christians poo-poo the idea that Christ's Rapture is coming, and soon?
Because the seeming "tardiness" of this looming imminent Rapture has made them complacent. They have become comfortable in their lives. They have a nice job, nice house, nice car. They love their wives and husbands. They have small children. They've been looking forward to watching their children grow up and one day have children of their own. They're planning for retirement. They have goals and milestones yet to reach, things yet to do, places yet to go.
But don't you understand? God does not rule His universe according to your life's plan. Do not get too comfortable in your life that you look on the return of Christ with trepidation. Do not put off getting right with God or thinking Jesus couldn't possibly return in your lifetime. He obviously meant another lifetime.
Do not get so numb to the tragedies all around you that they become trite and commonplace.
And remember, the Church will be Raptured before the Tribulation, so what we see here on earth is only the BEGINNING of sorrows. You think the 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, & resulting radiation disaster is bad? Beginning of sorrows. A birth pang. That was only a taste.
Rioting and uprisings in the Middle East? Another birth pang. How do I know? Well, considering most "awake" Christians are looking for the return of Christ, ultra-orthodox Jews are looking for their Messiah, and Ahmadinejad of Iran believes the rioting is heralding the 12th Imam of Islam (a Christ-like figure who will unite the world and rule in peace for 7 years -- sound like anyone familiar?), it seems a no-brainer. Never before have I witnessed in my life the fervor of three separate religions yearning for their "Savior" to come at the same time. That in and of itself should be a sign that something is going on.
Something not just the Christians are aware of.
Don't take my word for it. Read and study the Word of God. Find out these prophecies for yourself. Do your homework. God promises if we seek Him, we shall find Him. All I can do is point you in the direction. But don't be so comfortable in your life that you fail to find the hope in the one event every Christian before you has longed for.
~~Becka
