What Christian in their right mind does not like to read about future prophesies? It is
definitely exhilarating to think on those things. The next event on God’s calendar is the Rapture, then the Tribulation, then Christ’s thousand year reign, then eternity onward.
Unfortunately, I think there is a trend for most Christians to get all excited about these future events at the expense of the here and now. There is certainly nothing wrong in getting excited about Jesus coming for us in the Rapture. He encourages us to be looking for Him. However, while we are here, He also wants us to know Him, via His Word, and share Him with those who do not.
It reminds me of employees in the work force who look forward to lunch time and long for the five o’clock whistle to go home, or children in school who long for recess, lunch, and the last class. The actual “work” part of the day is like our having to eat our spinach.
I’ve noticed that when articles are written about future prophecies and especially how they relate to today, all the children come out to play, but when issues are covered about living the here and now, for example, they would rather stay inside and watch television. When topics of sensationalism are on display, everyone’s ears are tuned in. Wasn’t it true also with Jesus? As long as He was healing the sick and afflicted, or providing food, everybody showed up, but when that was over, they went away.
The same is true in local churches. Provide entertainment and food, and the crowds will come, but provide only preaching/teaching of God’s word, they stay home. Does this not show where the interest of the people lie? We are shallow indeed.
Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14) He also said, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;” (Matthew 9:37)
Only a few will find the narrow way to Christ, perhaps due to their superficial interests. Only a few, who call themselves Christians, will labor in the fields, perhaps for the same reason.
Hoards of people will drive for hours and fight the crowds to watch a ballgame, but won’t walk across the street to listen to the Word of God being proclaimed, unless entertainment and food are being provided, and even that may not coax them out.
A day is coming, maybe in the very near future that everyone will flock to the churches, at least for awhile, as it was after the Twin Towers were attacked.
I think the greatest cataclysmic event to happen next, since the flood of Noah’s day, will be the Rapture of the Church. Millions of people (the Church) will instantaneously disappear. Following are some things I feel will take place:
· Thousands and thousands of accidents from driverless transportation vehicles (land, rail, and air)
· Countless injuries and deaths from these accidents
· Insurance failures
· Companies going “belly-up” due to the loss of employees
· A panic in the hearts of man that cannot be described
· Sheer terror from expectations of what will happen next
· Some who will “catch on” to what happened, and experience a hopelessness that man has not known until that day
· Others will think we have been invaded by UFOs
· Heart failures from the sheer weight of it all
· Panic in the streets
· Looting the world over
· Murder and rampage this world has not seen
· Martial law
· The rise of hope in a false god
· Wars as prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39
If the Rapture of Christ’s Church isn’t sensational enough, what follows will certainly get the world’s attention. Isn’t it tragic that this is what it will take to bring the remainder to Christ? It would be so much easier now, before all this takes place, but apathy reigns.
“Tickle my fancy” is our cry. “Don’t bore me with anything in the epistles of Paul, Peter, John or Jude. The Gospels and Acts are not for me, and all that stuff in the Old Testament is just old stories that happened long ago. Tell me about Revelation though, and I will pick out what I like, but we both know that even if it’s true, it won’t be in my lifetime … will it?”
The world, right now, is falling down around our ears, and still so many people just don’t get it. Some want to hear about it, but they don’t believe it. How do I know that? If they believed it, they would act on it.
The people of Noah’s day watched for 120 years while Noah and his sons built the Ark. The rain, which they had never seen before, began falling around their ears, and yet they scoffed. Then the flood came. "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-27 NLT) God first removed Noah and his family.
The people of Lot’s day were warned, but they went on about their perverted affairs as God prepared for their destruction. "And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:28-29 NLT) God first removed Lot and his family.
The people of our day are mocking, and going about business as usual, but God is getting ready to send the Bridegroom for the bride. “Yes, it will be 'business as usual' right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:30 NLT) God will first remove His Own family.
Would you like your fancy tickled? Then get this. Ignore Him now if you like, but you won’t ignore Him then. The world will long for the “good old days”, but they will be gone forever. The Church that is despised now will be gone. The Holy Spirit of God will be very limited, perhaps even more so than in the days of the Old Testament. Here is one last plea from our Lord God, “For he says, In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV) “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
Grant Phillips
All my articles are located at “Pre-Rapture Commentary” http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com/ and also “Rapture Ready” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
