I have written other articles covering this subject, showing by the Scriptures that the
Rapture is a real event that will occur prior to the 70th Week of Daniel, commonly known as the Tribulation period. Others have written articles on this subject, also showing with Scripture, the reality of the Rapture prior to God’s wrath coming down on this earth during the Tribulation.
However, some people continue to insist that there is no Rapture of Christ’s Church, and that’s fine. I certainly fault no one for their own opinion. However, that is all it is … an opinion, and I don’t say that sarcastically. I’m saying that the more this subject is studied, the more evident it is that the Rapture is a reality. From my understanding of Scripture, it just can’t be any other way.
These same people are like doubting Thomas who would not believe anything unless he could see it and touch it. If the Bible doesn’t specifically say the exact words they want to hear, then it just ain’t true. With all due respect, if they are part of the Church, they have a wonderful surprise awaiting them that may not be too far off. It’s called the Rapture.
I have covered various aspects of the Rapture. So this time I just want to briefly elaborate about God’s wrath and His Church.
It is very clear when reading the book of Revelation, that during the Tribulation, (Daniel’s Seventieth Week), the wrath of God is unleashed upon this earth. The humble Lamb who paid our sins on a Roman cross, will exact Godly justice upon a world that has snubbed His ultimate sacrifice and spit in His face.
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
The wrath of God is no laughing matter for those who don’t believe. It will be a time on earth unparalleled to anything in the past. Nothing in the past of earth’s existence even touches it, not even the flood of Noah’s day.
Before God destroyed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, He first led the children of Israel to safety. Before God destroyed Jericho, he protected Rahab and her family. Before God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (and the surrounding cities), He first removed Lot and his family from harm’s way. Before God destroyed the world of Noah’s day by a flood, He first removed Noah and his family from danger by keeping them safe in the Ark. He will also remove His Church from His wrath to come, the Tribulation, as He has promised.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28)
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)
When God pours out his wrath on His enemies, He always places His own people out of harm’s way. He has never yet failed to protect His own from His own wrath.
Even in Paradise, He protected His own who were in Abraham’s bosom at that time, from those who were not His own, by placing a great gulf between them that could not be crossed.
God will not unleash His fury against the very people who call out to Him for mercy, by the very blood of His only begotten Son. It is not going to happen. If that were true, one could only say of God that, “He speaks with forked tongue.” He isn’t going to give us mercy in one hand and then beat the stuffing out of us with the other.
As far as I’m concerned with this subject we call the Rapture, I’ll see you on the way up to be with Jesus, before the Tribulation starts.
Before closing, I do want to emphasize the absolute urgency of any who do not know Jesus as Savior, to come to Him now. You may laugh all this off as nonsense, and ridicule everything you’ve heard, but God will not be mocked.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
To ignore Him is to suffer the same fate that the Antichrist and Satan will suffer.
“1And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 2The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 3And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
This same judgment that the unrighteous of the Tribulation will suffer comes to all who refuse Jesus as Savior. Notice carefully that this judgment involves suffering that will last forever and ever. Some people believe that if there is a hell, it will only last a short while, and then they will cease to exist. That is not what the verses above say. Notice carefully verse three. Those who deny Jesus Christ will go to hell and suffer forever and ever.
Grant Phillips
My articles are posted at “Pre-Rapture Commentary” http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com/ and many are also posted at “Rapture Ready” http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
