Are We Getting Raptured…or Not?
I’m currently in a class at church that is studying Revelation (and I’ve learned that a study of the “end times” is called Eschatology.) A bunch of people in the class believe we’ll be raptured before the Tribulation/Day of the Lord. Some don’t, including our teacher. He’s not saying it CAN’T happen, just that he doesn’t see it in scripture. He’s also pointed out that most noted theologians up until about 100 years ago believed Christians would go through the Tribulation period.
It’s hard to know what to believe but on one point, I believe God has given me revelation today in Ezekiel. One of the main beliefs that I’ve seen regarding a rapture before the Tribulation can be summed up quite easily: “God will not allow the bride (us, the church) to take a beating the night before the wedding.” John Hagee said that some years back and it’s always stuck with me. In other words, God is going to protect his precious bride and keep us from the hour of tribulation.
BUT, that verse also translates another way….”see you through.” Here is the verse that most Futurists (people who believe we’ll be raptured before things start to go REALLY wrong on this earth) look to this scripture to make the case that God will remove us.
Revelation 3:10 – “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial (tribulation) which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
Okay, that’s a great concept…we’ll be kept from the hour of trial. But when you look at the alternate translation, it reads “see you through the hour of trial.” Hmmm, this poses a dilemma…if it’s keep me FROM, that means I won’t go through it at all. But seeing me THROUGH means I go through it and God protects me.
But the point God showed me today is simple…and rather disheartening. (I would rather be removed from the ugly stuff than go through it with God keeping me safe…I have visions of foraging for roots and the like since if we DON’T get raptured, I’m DEFINITELY not taking any mark so I can eat!! The idea of martyrdom doesn’t sound so hot either…but I would for my Lord. I’d just rather be whisked away into the air to be with HIM!)
So here’s what I got in my Bible this morning: Ezekiel 21:1-7 – “And the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; and say to the land of Israel, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from among you. Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north, that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.”
“Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes. And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord God.”
What I see here that really hit me is that God may NOT spare His righteous and that we will go through tribulation. Whether or not we go through ALL of what is commonly thought of as 7 years of tribulation or not I cannot tell. But today I recognized that if I am indeed righteous, then that is all that matters to God.
I know that if I am righteous, earthly death…whether quick and fast or horrible and painful…is but a moment of time in the scheme of eternity. That it doesn’t matter if I go through “THE Tribulation!” The aftermath is CERTAIN for born again believers in Jesus Christ…eternal life with Him!
We go through the many trials of life that we all face on a daily basis. I’ve determined that no matter what I go through, I’ll be okay because God is in control. I am SURE of my salvation and my Savior’s promise of eternity.
Whether God lets His bride take a beating or not, the moment I die (and I will die one day as we all will) I will be with Jesus. This certain knowledge gives me comfort and helps me to continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, to continue to prepare my heart, to fight the good fight and to overcome ALL!
Jesus is coming soon and I want to be ready!
