The Rapture of the Church Explained
Dear Uncle Brock,
This is Marshall Taylor, your Nephew. Right now you’re probably in shock or maybe you aren’t. I know that you used to be a Christian. Please, if you already haven’t, accept Christ as soon as possible. You most likely know what is to come. Your family is in heaven with Jesus. Please don’t be discouraged.
-Marshall Taylor
Dear Friends and Relatives who have been left behind,
I have felt, deep in my heart and soul, that the Rapture was coming soon. All the wars, pestilence (SARS, AIDS, etc.), and turbulent weather all over the world were signs given to us by Christ in the Holy Bible. There are many other signs as well, you can read them on this website and on many other sites and in the Holy Bible. Please read your bible, the Rapture and the Tribulation and finally Armageddon, the end of this world as we know it, are all mentioned throughout the bible and now you know all those predictions are true.
Those of us who truly believed and accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, are no longer here on this earth but with our Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven with his Father, our merciful God.
It is not too late for those of you that were left behind, pray to Jesus and invite him into your heart, give Him your soul and your life, ask for his forgiveness for all your sins. Our God is a loving and awesome God and wants all of you with him.
Your time upon this earth is almost over, you must accept and believe in Jesus Christ, as your Lord, Savior and Redeemer to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The time is now, repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your heart and your life for the Tribulation is upon the earth.
Do not accept the “sign of the beast, 666”, It cannot be removed and then you will be doomed.
Together in Love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Barb
To the Daddies that are left,
Don’t worry about us now daddy. We are in a safer place now. We tried to
tell you the good news about Jesus Christ, but you didn’t listen. Remember
that one time I got on my knees before you and cried my heart out because
you weren’t save. We told you this would happen. I love you daddy. When you
and mama got divorced and you told me you never wanted to see me again…
the only way I got through that was with Jesus Christ. This is your last
chance daddy Jesus is real. Go to my room, there will be a bible by my
bed… I highlighted all the right verses. Ask him daddy.. then end is
coming soon. Don’t get left behind forever.
Love,
Your daughter
Dear Ones;
I have started a Left Behind letter over and over and over. Every time I have, I wondered if it was too negative. I just could not get a “good news” message out of it as much as I tried. Then I would think, well, there are thousands of pieces of literature out there already – what more could I possibly say? Then I would begin again on a more personal note – and found I was doing too much “I told you so…” Well, I pondered that awhile, and I realized the reason I was so negative was because I was “angry.” Yes, angry.
When I would address a certain person (in my mind’s eye), I would get angry at remembering all the times they were witnessed to; or all the times they would say “Don’t preach at me.” I would think, holy mackeral, you were with me all this time…you HAD to see Christ SOMEWHERE in me! I would think of all the times they called me, or turned to me in times of trouble because they KNEW I had an inner resource (greater is He that is within me, then he that is in the world).
I’d think of all the times I had interceded in prayer on their behalf (and told them so) and they allowed it, accepted it, while they were still needy – but then they would turn away when the problem was over, never thanking Jesus for the outcome. Oh I would get angry thinking about how much I wanted to share with them – things I had heard and learned from you dear brothers and sisters in “cyber-space”….or when I read them a news headline that just screamed PROPHECY FULFILLED! and they would look at me like I had two heads.
I wanted to tell them – “Look, this is coming to pass…” “Look, things are lining up, the storm is brewing, Jesus will be coming soon!” But they would shake their heads, or say, “Yeah yeah, He’ll come sometime – maybe now, maybe a hundred years from now…who cares?” (“where is the promise of his coming?”) Some of them with a little more (head) knowledge would say, “Well, there will be a lot of people saved after that Rapture thing – didn’t you say that?” And I would tell them not to take that chance, not to be so complacent and willing to make up their minds later for it could be too late – for their heart might be too hardened by then!” So what could I possibly say to them in a letter left behind?
I “felt” like telling them – “every time I witnessed to you and every time you heard and rejected it, it will be as hot coals heaped upon your head!”(Prov.25:22) But, hey, this is meant for the “enemy”! Not for those you love! But the truth is, every time they are witnessed to, every time they reject or put off accepting the Lord, they will be held even more accountable and without excuse. Those times we witnessed to them will indeed become ‘as coals heaped upon their heads,’… …..we cannot remain silent….but so often we do.
Then I tried the approach to write as if from a ‘heavenly’ perspective. But, there is really no “good news” salvation message in the Tribulation. I think that the people who get saved during the trib will be those who never realized before the love Jesus Christ has for them. I think there will be little hope for those who have had all the good news preached to them NOW and still rejected it. Let me give you an example: Before I knew I was lost, I assumed that when I came to the end of my days (sometime in the far far future) that I would somehow be put on a scale of balances – my good deeds would outweigh my bad…and that would determine my rating in heaven (no, I never thought about hell much).
Before I knew I was lost, I remember a conversation I had had with someone when I said this, “I know WHO Jesus Christ is…but how can I LOVE Him when I have never known Him?” Now that was a prophetic statement, although I did not know the “deepness” of it at the time. I believe with all my heart, soul and spirit that was when Jesus began calling to me – He knew I was searching, but I was spiritually blind. This is what is meant, I believe, by “Once I was lost, but now I’m found…” I was seeking, but HE is the One who found me. The statement I made back then to a friend was the key – I knew WHO He was, but indeed, how can I love Him having never known Him?
After that, I finally realized that Jesus had sought me, bought me, and saved me, and that’s when I could finally love Him. It was a heart thing. I had to fall in love with Him, not just know about Him…not just believe that He was the Son of God with my head….I finally could love Him because I understood that He loved me first! How can you not love someone who has REVEALED His love for you? When two people discover and declare they love one another, the relationship begins to blossom.
That is why I believe that the ones left behind, who will be saved, will most likely be those who are witnessed to by God’s special witnesses, and who will come to the knowledge and understanding that even NOW they can be saved if they will show Him that they are willing to lay down their lives for HIM, as He once laid down His life for them.
Those we witness to now, know who He is, but they do not yet love Him. They may likely still reject Him in the trib because they believe love is tolerance at any cost, and they will feel bitterness, betrayal, anger, and fear. They will ask, as some people even now do, “How can this God let all these bad things happen to people?” They will blame God – they will say things like, “If He is in control of all things, why is He allowing all this evil and letting these catastrophies happen?” But, I believe that the ones who get saved during the trib will be those who turn to Him knowing they deserve to be where they are – left behind – and they will fall on their faces in repentance and will realize the only hope left is not for their mortal lives, but for a place in eternity with Him. And that is why they will be willing to forego the mark and die as martyrs for His testimony. This is the ultimate “Those who lose their lives will find it.”
Thinking about this, where does that leave any good news to be said? There is none. And now I know why I am so angry at those I want to address in a left behind letter – it is because not only have they ignored or rejected my face-to-face testimony and witness now…but they will probably ignore and reject it even then, during the trib. And that makes me angry because I see the loss – I realize if they are left behind, having had every chance now to come to know Him, they probably won’t be saved at all….and I am angry…I am angry like you would be angry at your child if you told him over and over not to play with matches, and he did not listen, and lit them and his clothes caught fire, and he was burned and scarred…………angry like you would be at your child if you told them to hold your hand and not dash ahead out into the street, but they broke away and ran and was hit by an on-coming car………angry, angry, angry….because all the pain and hurt and anguish and suffering and grief could have been avoided! But the anger isn’t against the child himself!
The anger is against the lack of obedience that could have prevented the tragedy….because all the while you are knowing the lack of obedience caused this – your heart is breaking over and over, a million times over, because of the injury, because of the failure, because of the privation and loss. I got angry trying to compose a “left behind” letter because I know that those I love will be in a state of hardship in the trib and it is avoidable; and I am in a state of sorrow even now, knowing they may likely be absent from me for eternity. Have any of you who have children ever said this: “I’d rather be sick then have them sick.” Have you ever thought, “I’d rather do this or do that for them, than to watch them have to go through this.”
Well, Jesus our Savior did just that – He died for us, showed us He is Master/Conqueror over death; He resurrected and gave us the assurance He would do the same for us. Is God going to be angry at people who have rejected His Son? Yes. Can we be righteously angry at those we have tried to bring along with us, but who have refused to come? Yes….but the sorrow overrides the anger. Kinda like when your child doesn’t listen, gets hurt, you want to yell at them “I told you…” but instead you are holding them, hugging them, wiping their tears and rocking them because they are so precious and you love them so much…grateful it wasn’t worse, hoping they’ve learned a lesson, but nonetheless, so glad they are with you. But for those who don’t accept Jesus Christ, there will be no “with you.” They will be gone forever.
Right now it is hard for me to even think that. I don’t want to face it. Perhaps that is why I can’t write a left behind letter – I get too angry, I get too emotional, I get to sorrowful. How can I tell someone I love what to do, how to cope, after I’m gone…knowing chances are I will not see them ever again? How can I hold out an offer of salvation through Jesus during the toughest times of their lives, when they could not accept it during the best times of their lives? How am I to cope with this loss even now? Yes, in heaven, God will wipe away every tear, former things will no longer be remembered…..but for now, right here in THIS body….it is impossible for me to think I can forget those I love so dearly.
Well, if this isn’t a negative letter, I don’t know what is. Maybe I should just use it for a “Left Behind” letter anyway. Maybe those who read it will see and understand the anguish that we (who are saved) anticipate. Maybe it could make a difference. If there was anything I could say right now that would change someone’s mind about their eternal destiny it is this > GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD ….YOU!….THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON – JESUS CHRIST – WHO LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT HE DIED FOR YOU – EVEN BEFORE YOU EVER KNEW HIM – TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SINS AND GUILT. HE WILL TRADE YOUR UNWORTHINESS FOR HIS WORTHINESS. HE WILL TRADE YOUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE KNOWS THE WAY AND HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE FATHER IN HEAVEN. TRUST HIM. LOVE HIM…BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED YOU! That’s all. He will perform the miracle in your heart even though you might not understand it or “feel” anything different. That is what faith is. Faith is just believieng Him.
Loved ones, I want you in heaven with me…with the Lord Jesus Christ! Please don’t play with matches…please don’t run out into the street! I don’t want you to be hurt. I don’t want you to be lost. If I could grab you and hold onto you and never let go of you as I fly up to heaven to meet Him in the Rapture – I would do so. I would never loosen my grip on you. But I can’t. So Jesus is extending His Hand out to you right now….take it.
When you do, you will be ready to hear His voice when He calls us up. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Only then will my own heart rest easy to know you will be with us for all eternity. I love you! And as the song goes, “If love doesn’t last forever, what’s forever for?”
For all eternity in Jesus,
Sherry
I’ll assume that I don’t know your status, but I’m glad you’re reading this. Don’t stop. What you are about to read is able to set you free no matter where you are right now, but it depends what you decide to do once you’ve taken it all in. So here goes. That truly is the bottom line of God’s love for us of course. He gave us free will, even to reject Him. That’s the essence of love – it doesn’t force you into anything. But we do have to live with the consequences of our choices and how we have exercised our freewill. The nice thing though is that you can change the course of your life at any time by making new decisions.
Jesus Himself said that “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.(1) You may have the problem that you don’t believe in Jesus so how can you believe what He said. Well, the fact that you’re reading this means you are searching because you realized that there’s an emptiness within or that there are things you don’t know or haven’t taken serious. I’ll bet that by the end of this letter you will be ready to receive the truth about Jesus Christ. Why am I so confident? Because He Himself has put the truth within you(2), and as you read I pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s plans and purposes to and for you. After all He loves you enough to have died for you!(3)
What is truth, and what does it mean to be set free? Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.(4) You know that if all you got was food, you’d be dissatisfied. Why? Because there’s more to you than just flesh. You need relationships too. Truth is, we were created in God’s image.(5) He is spirit and so are we. Denying that has dire implications for your future. We live by the words of God. The Bible says that the word of God is truth.(6) We’re talking absolute truth here. This means that the words of God are what set us free. The word of God says that Jesus came to set the captives free.(7) It also says that Jesus is the word, and that the word became flesh and dwelt among us.(8)Jesus therefore sets us free. But free from what?
God’s plans are not limited to this world. That’s why He sent His son Jesus. It’s a plan of salvation for a time when the world as we know it will cease. And the world is characterized by sin. Jesus will set us free from sin and reconcile us to the presence of God. He didn’t say that when you accepted Him as Lord and Saviour that He would take you out of this world, but He did say that He was coming back for all those who believe and love Him. That’s called the rapture, and in concept it is well outlined in the Bible.(9) Christians don’t dispute the rapture, they just don’t agree to the timing of the rapture, but we’ll come to that later. Lets focus on salvation first. And yes YOU can get saved, even if the rapture has already taken place!
God’s word says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (God), AND, you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead that you will be saved.(10) The day will come when we individually appear before the judgement throne of God.(11) Salvation is for such a time, but is acquired beforehand. Salvation secures, for us, the mercy of God, which triumphs over judgement(12), and instead of being eternally separated from our creator, we are given robes of righteousness(13) and an eternal place in the kingdom of Heaven.(14) Your chance is now! At the end of this article is a prayer that will lead you to salvation. Refer to it any time you feel the desire to receive Christ, and let the truth set you free.
Even as I write in this month of September 2000, we are living in end times. Jesus said that when we see the buds on the fig tree, we know that summer is near.(15) Likewise, when we see the signs He spoke of in Matthew 24(16), we will know that the end is near. I want to draw your attention to this critical period in the history of humankind called end times. What is it? When will it be? How will I know, and what does it mean for my life and future?
What is meant by “end times”?
“End times” or the “End of the Age” refers to the end of the world as we know it, culminating with the judgement of humans by God. Remember that Jesus was God who came in the flesh and dwelt among us.(17) He, therefore, taught as one who had authority.(18) He taught with authenticity. He knew what was to come. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus was asked about the end of the age:
Matthew 24:3 As he [Jesus] was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” [All scripture quotes are from the New English Translation (NET), available at http://www.bible.org/netbible/index.htm]
His disciples wanted to know when the end would come, and what signs would be indicators that the end was near. There’s an important point to take note of in this verse however. The disciples made a connection between the end of the age and the second coming of Jesus. The signs would come first, but Jesus would return at the end of the age.
When will the end come?
Jesus deliberated as He answered the disciples’s question. We see that He takes 41 verses in Matthew to tell them what will happen. It was obviously important for them, and us, to know. Even though Jesus does spend time on the detail of the answer however, what He taught that day was a summary of the vision He reveals to John (and us) in the book of Revelation. But first lets see what He said in Matthew:
Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and they will mislead many.
Remember, Jesus is describing the end of the age and its signs. Before anything else, He warns us to watch out. We should be on guard against deception, and particularly concerning our belief of who Jesus Christ is. Remember, He is the Son of God(19), who was crucified, dead and buried, but was raised to life again,(20)and is now where? In Heaven with the Father.(21) Another thing that is clear is that many will be mislead, so in end times we can expect to see large numbers of people following falsehoods.
Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. 24:7 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 24:8 All these things are the beginning of birthpangs.
These are signs of the beginning of the end of the age! Wars, famines and earthquakes are the “buds” on the fig tree that tell us summer is near.
Matthew 24:9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. 24:10 Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 24:11 And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, 24:12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. 24:13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
What follows is the abundance of sin and absence of love in society. False peace and love will abound and lawlessness will mark the day.(22) In this atmosphere, Christians will be persecuted to the point of death. Once again a warning. Endure to the end! This means that we are to endure in our faith as Christians, because that in itself will become a difficult test of genuine belief. But the Gospel will be preached globally. Many will be martyred, but the preaching of God’s Word will ensure that no-one has an excuse for not believing in the Lord Jesus.
Have you recognized any of these signs in the world you live in? Sure you have, but you may be asking “Wars, famines, natural disasters and persecution have been happening for decades, even centuries, so how do I know that these scriptures apply to today?” To answer that we have to go to the book of Daniel, even Jesus, in the next verse of Matthew 24 refers to Daniel:
Matthew 24:15 “So when you see ‘the abomination of desolation’–spoken about by Daniel the prophet–standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24:16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 24:17 The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, 24:18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24:19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 24:20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 24:21 For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.
Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks have been determined
concerning your people and your holy city
to finish the transgression,
to bring sin to completion,
to atone for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal up the prophetic vision,
and to anoint a most holy place.
9:25 So know and understand:
from the going forth of the message to return and build
Jerusalem until the anointed one, the prince,
there are seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.
It will again be built, with plaza and moat,
but in distressful times.
9:26 Now after the sixty-two weeks,
the anointed one will be cut off and have nothing.
As for the city and the sanctuary,
the people of the coming prince will destroy them.
But his end will come speedily like a flood,
until the end of the war that has been decreed;
there will be desolations.
9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many
for one week. But in the middle of that week
he will bring sacrifice and offering to a halt
on the wing of a desolating abomination,
until the decreed end is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
Daniel received a prophecy of seventy weeks concerning the duration of events leading up to the end of the age. The word “weeks” here in Hebrew means “sevens.” These are periods of seventy “sevens” of years. Seventy periods of seven years each have been determined for sin to run to completion, for Jesus to atone for iniquity and bring everlasting righteousness, for the vision received by Daniel to happen completely, and for God to set up His throne with us in His presence. The anointed one in Daniel is Jesus. It takes 69 weeks until the crucifixion of Jesus (cutting off of the anointed one), and the destruction of the temple (sanctuary) by the coming prince, which occurred in cf 70 AD. That leaves one week to go, or seven years, for the completion of the vision. We see in Daniel 9: 27 that “the one who makes desolate” makes peace with many for one week (or seven years). During this time Jews begin to sacrifice in the temple again, which had to have been rebuilt. But in the middle of the week (three and a half years) ‘the abomination of desolation’ stands in the temple and stops sacrifice. These are the actions of the Anti-Christ.
The beginning of this seven year period is marked by a confirmation of covenant with many by the Anti-Christ, and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple for sacrifice. This still has to happen as at the date of writing. Jesus said that when these events take place, there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.(23) This is the Wrath of the Lamb referred to in Revelation(24), which is a series of judgements that Jesus pours out on the earth and its inhabitants. These judgements are before Judgement Day, and are really a result of God’s mercy in that He gives people a chance to see His power and accept salvation through His Son before the end of the age.
Matthew 24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 24:23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 24:25 Remember, I have told you ahead of time. 24:26 So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. 24:27 For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 24:28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
This period of great distress and suffering has been cut short by God for the sake of those who love Him. That’s how bad it will be! But He warns us again: Beware of falsehoods. People will claim to be gods during this time of history, even Christ Himself, and will be convincing because they will even perform miracles. Remember, God Himself has given us the truth about His Son. All scripture is God-breathed(25), and it says that the truth will set you free.(26) The truth about Jesus is that God the Father loves us (you and I) so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, and whoever believes in Him (that’s Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.(27)
Verse 27 of Matthew 24 (above) is talking about the rapture. The rapture is the taking of all those who truly believe in Jesus. This surely is the greatest sign that the end of the age is at hand. Millions of true Christians will vanish from the earth. Where will they go?
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them [dead believers] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord always.
Believers who are alive will be caught up suddenly with all those believers who died, and will meet Jesus in the air. Jesus (in Matthew) also warns that it will be sudden, as lightning flashes from the east to the west.(28) This may sound far fetched to you, but it’s the truth, it’s the word of God, and knowing and believing it will save you. At this stage of history, do you not rather want to be a believer and be a part of Jesus, who has all authority and power on earth?(29)
Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 24:30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
More signs, depicted by the sun, moon and stars. Then Jesus (the Son of Man) will come, and He will come with power and glory and He will take up His kingship. But many want to know when that will be. What does Jesus teach?
Matthew 24:36 “Now about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, except the Father alone. 24:37 For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 24:38 For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. 24:39 And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. 24:40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. 24:41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left. 24:42 “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 24:43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Jesus said that only the Father knows when His second coming would be, but He compares it to the situation Noah and his family faced when the great flood came. Noah knew it was going to rain, and he was expectant. He entered the ark in faith and waited for it to start raining. Do you think he was surprised by the rain? Of course not. He knew the season, but not the day or hour. Unbelievers and scoffers however, were taken by complete surprise and were drowned. They had rejected God’s word. The truth was not within them and they were not therefore set free. So it is with us. Jesus has given us the signs to watch out for and has commanded us to stay alert and to be ready. Jesus has given us the truth about Himself and about the end of the age. Dare we reject His truth? Dare we scoff at the prophecy of Jesus? You are witness to the signs He spoke of. Do you not think that God is talking to you? Calling you? Call out to Him and pray, right now. You will be saved! Mercy triumphs over judgement.(30)
How does knowing all this affect me?
Many Christians argue about when the rapture will be. Remember the rapture is a separate event to the second coming of Christ, but many believe they will occur together. Briefly, some believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, some in a pre-wrath rapture and some in a post-tribulation rapture. Now that’s a mouthful isn’t it? The tribulation is generally accepted as being the period during which God pours out three series of 7 judgements on the earth and humankind.(31) Jesus Himself referred to the severity of the tribulation:
Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.
Some hold that the disappearance of Christian believers in the rapture will be before this, but some believe we will endure the tribulation. Others believe that the rapture will occur somewhere in the middle of the tribulation before the Wrath of the Lamb (32) (pre-wrath). It is not my intention to support any of these views, but rather to underplay the importance of the rapture “when”, and emphasize the surety of its occurrence, and its implications for believing in Jesus Christ.
Biblical prophecy is true. This means that we can rely on the truth of God’s word. We’ve seen what the Bible says about end times and signs thereof. The rapture (and the second coming of Christ) will happen. If the rapture has not yet happened, our faith needs to be prepared and ready for the day. If the rapture has already happened, there is very little time left to the second coming of Jesus Christ. You can still receive salvation by believing, but once He comes its too late to change your mind.
The book of Revelation is a prophecy given to John by Jesus of the fate of our planet and the destination of humankind. Many are discouraged by the prophetic nature of Revelation. I will summarize important events that are relevant to this discussion. The first seven judgements, of a total of 21, are called the seal judgements (or dooms).(33) These start the tribulation period, during which time a quarter of earth’s population dies.
The seven Seals:
The seven Trumpets:(34)
After the seven Trumpets, seven Bowl judgements are poured out.(35) These are:
The book of Revelation reveals the details of what Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24, and provides vivid signs that lead, over a period of seven years, to the end of the age and the second coming of our Lord. These signs clearly set out what MUST happen and because God warned us beforehand their fulfillment bears witness to God’s power and mercy. What must happen sounds terrible, but God is being merciful in that He gives humankind profound warning of the end of the age. Humans will suffer, and that includes Christians, but our hope and strength is in Jesus Christ who, when He comes will redeem believers and glorify them with eternal life in the kingdom of God. I know that I have said that before, but I can’t stress the importance of choosing to believe in Jesus enough. What this all means for you is that you need to prepare yourself for what is to happen. Accept the truth and reject the lies of what people are saying. Believe what the Bible says about salvation, judgement day, and eternity, and give your life to Jesus Christ.
May the blessings of the one true God cause you to find Him, His Son, His Spirit, and His gift of salvation which He extends to ALL.
Summary excluding Revelation
Prayer for salvation:
What follows is a prayer that will help you receive salvation. Pray it out aloud to God and believe it in your heart. Expect that it will change you and your life.
Lord Jesus.
I realize that I have not been obedient to your Word, and that this constitutes sin. I also realize that the only sin you wont forgive is my rejection of you. I am ready to do what it takes to receive salvation. I am ready to commit to You and to believe. I am ready to repent in my heart. Please forgive me Lord Jesus. I confess that You are Lord. I choose to acknowledge that right now. I believe that you died for me Lord Jesus, so that my sins could be blotted out. Thank you! I believe in my heart that God raised you from the dead, and that you sit in heaven with the Father. I choose this day, to accept your covenant Lord Jesus. Thank you that I am now saved. Help me to develop my relationship with you. I want to know you Lord Jesus. May your name be praised for ever.
Amen
Congratulations! You are now saved and have become a son or daughter of the most high God, co-heirs with Jesus Christ. My suggestion to you is that you find a Bible and read the gospel according to John. Enjoy!
3. John 3: 16-18; 1 Corinthians 15: 3
9. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-54
21. Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1: 3
To Those Left Behind:
I am writing this letter September 20th of the year two thousand, prior to the events I believe are now unfolding before you:
Such scenes of war, natural disaster, raping, murder and devastation as has never covered all the face of the land at one time in all the history of the earth. The great war lord lays waste all in his ever-increasing path, the very report of which sends terror before him. The earth herself mourns as her children reap death in such number, there are not enough left to bury the dead, bringing plague and pestilence of every order to her seemingly few remaining inhabitants. The wicked slay the wicked in every increasing number.
To cleanse herself, the earth erupts forth with spontaneous vapors of smoke and tongues of fire to quell the stench of death which distills as a mist upon her. Whole cities are swallowed as the earth opens her mouth to receive them and mountains flow down to cover the wickedness of man against man. Smoke and vapors hide the light of the sun and the moon and stars seem to have fled, hiding their light from the shame that covers the earth.
Voices heard from on high lament the state of the world as winds and fires and lightnings and thunders, the sea heaving herself beyond her bounds, and all manner of upheaval are sent forth to testify against the inhabitants of a world who have forgotten their God.
Where is the glory of Rome? How falleth modern Babylon? Where now are thy idols of clay and brick and iron, ye who have worshipped the workmanship of thine own hand? Where can ye buy safety with thy gold and thy silver?
Now hear the voice of He who sits enthroned on high–even a voice of earthquake and tumult and death. Each of the seven angels has sounded his trump and poured forth plague upon a wicked world.
Yea, Babylon hath fallen, hath fallen, and the merchants of the earth mourn. The seventh seal is opened and the wicked are gathered into the garners to be burned. APOCALYPSE NOW!
“Oh, God of Heaven, whose left hand pours forth the plagues spoken of by all thy holy prophets of generations past; and who, by thy right hand, hast withheld thy fury from those who loved thee, who were caught up to meet Thy Beloved Son in His cloud, the Holy Shechinah! They pray for you who are left upon an earth of torment and agony.
May you yet recognize and acknowledge the God of Heaven and His Son, even Jesus Christ–the Promised Messiah! May you yet acknowledge thy transgressions and give away all of your sins in this the final hours, that even if you must suffer the pangs of death upon the earth; your souls may yet be saved in the world to come!
Carol
My Darling,
I am writing to you in the hopes that you actually don’t need to read this. This should only be read if all of a sudden I disappear along with millions of others and you’re still here.
First and foremost, I want to say that I love you as much as I am humanly able to love. I don’t ever plan on leaving you. And if I suddenly do, it was not by my choosing that I am gone. My hope is that we will both be suddenly gone from this earth when God calls us up. Then this letter won’t matter because we will both be in heaven and will care not for earthly concerns.
If there is anything I can say that would comfort you as a time like this, it is that Jesus loves you. And wants you to be with him in heaven. I believe that you have had a rough life and have been at times short on faith, but please remember that Jesus loves you and wants that none should perish but that all have eternal life.
I believe that Jesus led me to you. For what reason, I sure do not know. But I do believe that he has. And maybe it was for this moment. Maybe he knows that you are still unsure of your spirit and need me to guide you. I hope up to this point, that I have at least done something to help make your life easier. I hope that by reading this, you will at least feel some comfort in the knowledge that I will still love you and am praying for you and I hope that you will come to accept Jesus into your heart as I have.
Life for you now is going to get quite difficult. But I know you’re strong enough to take whatever happens. I know that you realize what’s at stake and are now preparing for the coming 7 years. Please know that if I could take your place and suffer for you, I would. But, Jesus may have other plans for me. I have a web site that I think you should look at. I don’t know how long after the disappearances this web site will stay up but go there and read everything you can. Maybe even print out all it’s pages to keep with you as a guide. Here is the web address: www.raptureready.com
You will know you are at the correct site if you find the words “Rapture Ready” in big bold red letters. There are other sites that you might find helpful and the links to those sites can also be found here. There is quite a bit of good information for you to help you in these dark times. My Love, please read them and take them and the bible at face value. Things will happen as the bible says they will.
If there is any advice I can offer you now, it is to get my bible. Read it from cover to cover to see what God has planned for the world. See what has been, what is about to transpire and what will come in the end. I was extremely excited when you discovered the “Left Behind” Series. And I was glad that you shared with me what you were reading. I was happy to share those books with you. I was hoping some day we could sit down and really discuss the messages that were in those pages. I believe that even though those books were written as fiction, that in some form, this is how things will be after those who are to be taken are “caught up”.
I also have one HUGE request my beloved. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE MARK! If there is anything that you do or don’t do, PLEASE do not do this. Let them kill you instead of taking this mark of the beast. Accept this fate and please ask Jesus to come into your heart. Give your soul to him and proudly proclaim that Jesus is Lord. If you do take the mark, you will not be able to take your place in heaven. There is nothing anyone can do for you if you do. And before this is a requirement, please pray to accept Jesus into your heart. It is the best thing you can do. Jesus will look out for you and even though this may not seem so, he will do this. You will find his promise in the bible. Please read it.
I am praying for you now and in the future. I hope that as Jesus sets up his 1000-year kingdom on this earth, that we can be reunited. And we can start a new life together under the kindly direction of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I love you my darling, and I wish I could be with you to protect you. I will be looking for you at the Glorious Return of Jesus Christ to this earth. I pray I will find you.
Dear One and All,
I am writing to you because I know that if anyone in the family is concerned about our whereabouts, it will be you who bothers to check on us if possible, by making a trip down here unless Marshall Law has been declared because of the current chaotic condition. It has been my desire for a number of years to leave something behind in case we are strangely missing, along with many thousands (or millions) of other people.
I know how strange this must sound, and I feel rather ridiculous to be writing such a page, yet feel an unexplained urgency to do so. It is currently the end of February 1998, however when you read this it will be later on in the future sometime at an undetermined date. I’m afraid you will someday look back on past conversations, and see that we were right all along. By then it may be too late, unless it’s early in the game and you will listen now…please, your life is at stake here.
My first piece of advice to you is…don’t trust anybody…especially the government or news media. What they are telling you regarding this massive disappearance is NOT, I repeat NOT the truth! If you are believing them, you are under a strong false delusion. Right now, however you need to know what happens next. Please leave room for human error…I never claimed to be a prophet. For truth and accuracy regarding what will be happening right now and for the next 7 years, read the book of Revelation in the Bible starting with chapter four.
And what do we say to you, now that we are gone and you all remain? I guess, study. Study, read, see if what I am saying to you and what is happening in the world is consistent with Biblical scripture. If what I am saying to you is true, then consider who Jesus was. Read the Gospel of John for that information. We would plead with you to recognize who He is and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior now, while you still have a chance… before you must stand before Him in judgment. It will be too late then. The world is now in judgment; there is still time, albeit short. Like a woman in labor with pain increasing intensity and frequency, so the events soon to take place will deliver you up to the battle of Armageddon.
Where’d Everybody Go?
Right now, I’m sure there’s a tremendous battle going on, with various points of view trying to explain why millions of people just suddenly vanished. (And we are assuming at this particular point in time, and from what the Bible seems to indicate, that this will be a literal physical disappearance). Because it’s likely that the media will be teaming with possible explanations for the disappearances, most likely the final explanation will be that we were all abducted by aliens. Don’t buy it! What I will do is tell you what did cause this supernatural event, and it was supernatural. The mass disappearance of all these people was the result of the Lord Jesus Christ removing all true believers, [those of us who acknowledge Jesus Christ as being the only true God Who died in our place, rising from the dead three days later, and who we have asked personally to forgive our sins and be the Lord of our lives], from off the earth. This catching up of the true believer into heaven is referred to as the rapture the Church. Maybe you remember us talking about that in times past. Those of us who are true believers have been looking forward to Jesus returning for some time now, and especially because most of the signs of His coming have taken, or are taking place right now. Anyway…this is what happened…
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
This event is known as, the rapture (or the catching up) of the church. The original Greek word for “caught up” means to “snatch by force”. Don’t look for the word “rapture” in the Bible…it’s not there.
Why Didn’t He Take Me?
Because you are reading this after the rapture, you need to realize that you have been left behind.
At this time you may be feeling rejected by God. You might be saying to yourself, “Why didn’t he take me?” or “I don’t understand; I’ve led on good life.” The problem wasn’t that God rejected you; the problem is that you have rejected Him. By not believing and committing your life to Jesus, you have left him with no other choice but to leave you behind. God is a gentleman and won’t force Himself on anybody.
“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son, has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:11-12)
Is There Hope For Me?
Depending on how early you read this, you may have heard people say, “Because we’ve missed the rapture, we are lost forever.” If you do hear something like this, whoever they are, there assumption is flat wrong. As long as you have breath in your lungs, you can gain salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
“… him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”(John 6:37)
“Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”(John 1:12)
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”(Isaiah 1:18)
According to Revelation, there will be a huge number of people saved during the tribulation. Some scholars have predicted that tribulation believers would grow to out number the saints that were just raptured.
“After these things, I looked, and, behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, and all tribes and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palm branches in their hands;” (Revelation 7:9)
“…And he said to me, These are the ones who come out of great tribulation, and they have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)
Why do I need Jesus Christ to be my Savior?
To be allowed to pass through the gate’s of heaven you need to have all your sins removed, and the only industrial strength cleanser that I know is strong enough to thoroughly remove sin stains is the blood of Jesus Christ. You could say heaven is much like the “clean rooms” where computer companies make their microchips, or an operating room where sin is like dirt or any other airborne contagion that might try to find its way into one those rooms.
The manufacturing process for microchips requires “clean rooms” to be absolutely spotless, having virtually zero free-floating dust or dirt particles that could damage the delicate microchips. Because humans are naturally contaminated with all kinds of dirt and dust particles, whenever a worker enters one of these “clean rooms,” they need to wear a special suit that prevents them from giving off particles. To prevent heaven from becoming contaminated with sin particles, God has long set the requirement that anyone desiring to enter into his untarnished dwelling place needs to be covered in the blood of Jesus.
The sin decontamination process is very simple – your simply ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for it. First you admit your sinful state, then you ask Jesus to forgive you of your wrong-doings, and then you ask Him to become the Lord in your life.
By dying on the cross, Jesus has made it possible for each of us to be granted a full pardon from the punishment of eternal damnation. The reason so few people take God up on the offer of being pardoned is that most people don’t think they need a Savior or they want to find their own way of salvation. Your wealth cannot get you into heaven any more than your good works. Your wealth means nothing to God and is of no value…
‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9-10)
There is absolutely nothing we can do to obtain righteousness, not infant baptism, the faith of our parents, or other good works included. When we accept Jesus, we put off our old filthy rags and put on Jesus’ righteousness.
‘Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6)
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:24-26)
“…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved; for with the heart man believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)
There Will be Strong Delusion
Jesus foretold that false prophets would arise using “great signs and wonders” to trick people into believing satanic lies. Now, the Antichrist arrives on the scene. A man who is the head of a ten-nation confederacy, most probably the EU, who makes or confirms a peace contract with Israel. He seems to solve all the problems of the world and he will seem like the most benevolent leader that has ever held office. However, by the end of the tribulation, he will easily make the likes of Hitler and Stalin look like,” good ole boys.”
“…the one coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not love the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11)
” For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; inasmuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24)
Because the lies of the Antichrist and false prophets will be so pervasive, you will need to assume everything and anything in the mass media is tainted doctrine. Your only source for the truth must now exclusively come from the Bible.
Do Not Trust Christian Leaders
In the coming days, you are going see and hear messages from some of the biggest names in Christendom on radio and TV, and these messages won’t be ones recorded before the rapture. The broadcasts you’ll be hearing will be either be live or taped after the rapture. They will be from religious leaders that have also been left behind. Millions of people may be being reassured by the religious media that their favorite Christian celebrity is still here on earth. I expect most of these well-know leaders, possibly out of embarrassment, will be working feverishly to disprove the rapture event. Many religious and political leaders will be attempting to persuade you into believing some logical explanation for the rapture-all will be contrary to the word of God.
Enduring to the End
Well, here comes the unpleasant news. You will likely have to choose martyrdom if you wish to maintain your commitment to Jesus Christ. There will be no middle ground. During this period of time, you will have to choose between two masters – the new World Leader (Antichrist) or Jesus Christ.
Your decision to follow Jesus will not be a popular one. The majority of the world’s populous will soon be falling captive to the Antichrist’s hypnotic words. Because true believers will refuse to join the chorus of praise, the Antichrist will demand that all nonconforming Christians be put to death.
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred’s, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man has an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:7-10)
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Revelation 6:9-11)
At first it may seem rather easy to secretly be a follower of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, very soon the Antichrist will be requiring everyone to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead. This electronic implant or tattoo will be the means by which everyone buys and sells goods and services. If you do not have this implant, it will become quiet obvious.
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”( Revelation 13:17)
Because the Bible says that everyone who receives this implant (mark of the beast) will be eternally lost, I’m going to highly advise you to decline the offer when the government informs you, they have your implant ready for insertion.
“And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:11)
In the coming persecution, you will likely be faced with the greatest amount of trials that Christians have ever had to endure in world history.
The good news here is that you will know how long you will have to endure. >From the time the Antichrist declares himself to be God (in the newly rebuild Jewish temple in Jerusalem) , there will be only 1260 days until Christ returns to earth.
“And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)
Post-Rapture Survival Guide
Let me be real frank with you. If you are reading this manual and the rapture has already occurred, then you probably are not going to physically survive; you most likely will die. This manual is about the survival of your soul. The horrible things which are about to come upon the earth are listed below, however, some are interpretations or speculations of scriptural passages. Whether they are literal or only somewhat accurate, you are going to go through terrible suffering. The first 3-1/2 years will be a picnic, the last 3-1/2 years will be a literal hell. The only question is whether you will go to heaven or go to hell when you die. Know this, however, that you have the longest seven years of your life ahead of you right now.
Definition: Rapture- This is the event that will occur when Jesus calls His followers (both gentile and Jewish believers) with a trumpet blast, and in the “twinkling of an eye” they will be removed from the earth and transported to be with Jesus in the heavens.
Biblical Foundation for the Rapture
“Take notice, I am telling you a secret. We shall not all die but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet call. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed. ” I Corinthians 15:51-52
“For with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, and those who died in Christ will rise first. Afterward we, the living who remain, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall forever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16-17
“…For I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when I have gone and have prepared a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself so that where I am, you also will be.” John 14:2-3
Signs of the Times
When Jesus disciples asked Him about the signs that would be a precursor to His coming and the end of the age He responded that there would be (Matthew chapter 24):
� Wars and rumors of wars
� Nation will rise against nation. It is very interesting to note that the Greek word that is translated as nation is “ethnos” which deals with ethnic background and race. Most of the wars and conflicts in the 1980’s and 1990’s were wars amongst ethnic groups and tribes.
� Kingdom will rise against kingdom
� Famines
� Earthquakes “these will be like the early pangs of childbirth”, that is, as the time grows nearer and nearer to His coming, the frequency and intensity of these five signs will increase.
� The followers of Jesus will be handed over to be persecuted and killed -This is happening with more frequency in the Moslem controlled nations in the Middle East and in Africa where Black Moslems are enslaving Black Christians.
� Christians will be hated by all nations on account of His name. In many parts of the world Christians are jailed and killed for their beliefs; in the United States those who are Christians are hated by the media and liberals and are known by the code words “religious right”.
� Many will fall away…that is, many who claimed to be Christians will recant their faith and betray and hate Christians.
� Many false prophets will ariseand deceive many.
� Due to excessive lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold
After the Rapture
Shortly after the rapture, a seven year period known in the Bible as the Great Tribulation will take place. It will begin with the confirmation of a peace agreement between Israel and her enemies and it will end with the physical return of Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom on earth. In between will be seven years of terror for those on earth. The following events and trends will take place in increasing intensity during that seven year period (these events are not necessarily chronological):
� A man will arise who will achieve victory after victory both in politics and in war. This man, who should be easily identified by his rapid rise and popularity, is THE anti-christ. Many people believe that this person must be Jewish. That is, in order for Jews to accept him as Messiah, only a Jew will suffice. This is not necessarily the case; the Bible does not specify that he is a Jew, and it does not specify nationality. Only God-fearing Jews will require a Jewish Messiah. He is to come from a ten nation confederacy, the “revived Roman Empire”, most likely the European Union. The liberal ungodly Jews who dominate Israel will be as lost when it comes to Biblical truth as the gentiles of the world and will be deceived by his charisma, and more than likely, the desires of the world’s media.
� The “world dictator” (anti-christ) will allow the Jewish Temple to be re-built in Jerusalem where three and a half years after confirming a peace contract with Israel will break that contract and will go into the Jewish Temple and proclaim that he is God and is to be worshipped. He makes an image of himself to be worshipped.
� People will be required by the world dictator to receive a mark (possibly a tattoo or an implant) in their right hand or forehead in order to buy and sell. Those who receive this mark will develop a “loathsome and malignant sore” on their bodies with short period of time.
� A third of the earth, one-third of all trees and all the green grass will be burned up due to a comet or meteor (speculated), that hits the earth.
� Violence will increase in all parts of the world both nation against nation (ethnic wars) and domestically. Men will indiscriminately slay one another as peace will be removed from the earth.
� There will be extreme inflation, poverty, and lack of food. One day’s wages will buy enough food for one day for one person. The richer you are, the better.
� In a very short period of time, one-quarter of the earth’s population will be killed due to wars, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. These wild beasts could be literal and/or could very well be viruses, bacteria and other microbes. In late 1995 Time magazine ran a cover story on the rise of new infections and called microbes “malevolent little beasts”.
� Many people will experience a religious conversion and become followers of Jesus Christ and most of these people will be hunted down and killed.
� There will be a great earthquake, the sun will be blackened, the moon will turn red and all mountains and islands (which are underwater mountains) will be moved.
� There will be a brief period of calm on the earth following this great earthquake which will give those who survive a false sense of security.
� A meteor, a nuclear weapon, or maybe a volcanic eruption (speculated), will hit the earth causing the sea to become like blood (possibly coagulated), killing one-third of all sea creatures and destroying one-third of all shipping.
� A “star” named Wormwood (bitterness) will fall from the sky and poison one-third of all fresh water killing many people. It is interesting to note that the Russian word, “Chernobyl” means bitterness.
� The sun, moon and stars will be darkened by one-third. The day and night will be reduced by one-third. There is some speculation that this means the rotation of the earth will be changed so that a day lasts only 16 hours instead of 24 hours.
� Fearsome locust-like beings will be released from underground who only attack people who have the mark in their forehead or right hand, who are not followers of Jesus Christ. These attacks will be very painful but last only 5 months. People will try to commit suicide, but can’t die.
� Two men (known as witnesses, see item 6 below) of Jewish origin will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 3 1/2 years and be killed at the midpoint of the 7 year tribulation. These two will be responsible for a 3 1/2 year world-wide drought
� The oceans will chemically change and become like the blood of a dead man (coagulated?) and everything in the sea will die.
� The fresh waters will become like blood.
� The sun will scorch the people on earth with fierce heat.
� The throne of the world leader (anti-christ) and his kingdom will become darkened.
� The Euphrates river will dry up allowing the armies from the orient to march westward.
� Possible nuclear exchange, modern warfare escalating to the point of near destruction of mankind and the earth.
� The kings of the world will gather their armies together to battle God at the Valley of Mageddo. There will be a great earthquake, so great that all the mountains and islands will disappear. There will be hailstones weighing close to 100 pounds that will crush the armies that have gathered.
� Shortly after this great earthquake, Jesus Christ will return with His army to claim the earth as His possession.
The Two Witnesses
These two Jewish men are God’s gift to the people of the earth who refused to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ prior to the rapture, but who will recognize the error in their life and seek God knowing the terrible mistake they have made. These two men will proclaim the gospel and provide hope for those left behind. Their message is for the salvation of the soul and to eternal life. Listen to what these two men are preaching and turn to God.
The Bible does not say who these two men are. Many speculate that they are Elijah and Enoch, who never died, or Elijah and Moses, two ancient prophets of God . Regardless of who they are, they will be responsible for many of the natural catastrophes that will reek havoc on the property and economy of the earth. They will have the power to prevent rain, and there will be a 3 1/2 year draught on earth until they die. They will turn water into blood and cause all kinds of plagues on earth and in general make life miserable for those who are living on earth. If anyone tries to harm them, the witnesses will “consume them with fire out of their mouths.” They will be invincible. Only the world dictator will be able to kill them, and only then, when God allows it.
The purpose of all the misery that these two witnesses inflict on the earth dwellers is to turn people back to God in repentance. The misery will be so great that when the world dictator does finally kill these two men, the world will rejoice in a Christmas-like celebration, giving gifts to one another. It will have world-wide TV coverage. Three and one-half days after their death they will be resurrected and in full view of the entire population of the world ascend to heaven at the command of God when He calls them to “Come up here”.
The 144,000 Jewish Witnesses
Shortly after the rapture, God will call His army of 144,000 new Jewish believers into service to provide a voice of hope for Jews throughout the world.
Money
Hard currency will become obsolete. However, at some point after the rapture, probably right after the two witnesses are killed, everyone will be required to get a mark on their right hand or forehead in order to buy and sell. Do not, do not, do not under any circumstances participate by receiving this mark. All those who receive this mark known as “the mark of the beast” are doomed for eternity. By taking this mark you are swearing allegiance to the anti-Christ. God will render judgment on those with the mark by inflicting them with a disgusting looking and very painful ulcer covering their bodies. So how can a person without the mark survive and still buy and sell? Again, this will almost be impossible, therefore, you may profit from saving up for you elf gold; gold has always had value as money and always will, even in a cashless society
Safety Concerns
This era will be the most violent of times in the history of the world. In order to survive this time, you need to remove yourself from society and live in a remote area that is difficult to access.
Health Concerns
You must build a supply of multiple vitamins with particular emphasis on anti-oxidants such as C and E and minerals. It will also be necessary to have a supply of disinfectants, particularly one that can be added to water to make it potable. If possible a get a portable water filter.
Above all, do not accept the mark of the beast on your right hand or forehead. If you do take the mark then nothing can be done for you. I hope and pray that we will have the privilege of welcoming you into the heavenly kingdom in seven years, but to do that the choice you make now to ask Christ into your life is now up to you. You can ignore our warnings as in the past, or you can watch and see what happens. See if what I am saying is true or not. But, don’t wait too long, and don’t take your life for granted that it will be here tomorrow. Regardless of what, or in whom your personal belief is in right now…remember that one day, “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
* Please note that most of this information has been downloaded from: http://www.raptureready.com
Please go there for more comprehensive information.
Dear Friend:
First of all let me say that I am really sorry you got left behind. In fact I feel guilty about it. We should have done more. No. Stop. That’s not right. Not “we should have done more” but I should have done more. I’ve always been a bit of a coward – to concerned about what other people might think of me rather than doing what I knew should be done.
Let me tell you a little bit about what has happened and what will happen. The Second Coming of Christ will occur in two stages. The first stage was the Rapture, which of course just recently occurred. The second stage will be the Revelation. The time between the two Stages is not less than seven years, and is occupied in the heavens by the Judgment of Believers for Works and on the earth by The Great Tribulation. At the Rapture he came for his Saints and at the Revelation He will come back with his Saints.
Weren’t those headlines something else when we all disappeared? What happened at the Rapture is best described in I Thess. 4:15-17. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
We definitely heard the shout, the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God. I’m not sure if you heard them or not; you may have mistook them for thunder, but we heard them and we are gone. It was glorious. First the dead in Christ were caught up in the air and then those of us in Christ who were still alive were caught up next. I saw my mother who had passed on and my sister who had died when she was four. Some of my friends are here; some are not. What is really sad is that the same goes for my family. We are of all different religious faiths. There are Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Jews, Jehovah Witnesses, Catholics and even a couple of Presbyterians. (That was a joke, since I am of the Presbyterian faith). We are the true Christians. We are the body of Christ. We are the Church of which Christ is the Head. We are the Bride. Christ is the Bridegroom.
There have been many royal weddings of international interest where the invited guests and spectators witnessed a spectacle magnificent in its appointments, and rejoiced in a union that bound together different nations. But the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride the Church will surpass them all, for it shall unite Heaven and Earth in a bond that shall never be broken, for what God (the Father) shall join together no man shall ever put asunder, and that union no divorce shall ever break. We are going to have the greatest, grandest wedding feast that has ever been seen anywhere. I can hardly wait. But first we are going to the Judgment of Believers. It’s not a judgment to see if we belong here. We know we belong here because we have accepted Christ as our Savior. It is not a Judgment for sin, but for “works.” It’s going to be more like a 4H Fair. You remember the 4H Fairs where the kids were given blue ribbons for the great projects and things they did during the year? It’s going to be something like that. The New Testament mentions five Crowns to be given as rewards.
You know, one of the best things about being here – in fact it’s fantastic – there is no hate here, only love. It’s a little bit like when I was on earth and would watch my small children and later my grandchildren. They didn’t know what hate was. They were so full of beauty, innocence and love it would bring tears to my eyes. That was probably the greatest joy I had on earth. Of course we were all like that at one time before the world messed us up.
I’m sorry. I’m running off at the “computer” again. I’m so excited about being here that I’m getting carried away. I need to tell you what’s going to happen on earth and what you need to do to get ready. Some people think the Second Coming of Christ means the end of the world. It’s really just the opposite. It’s just the beginning. Once the Tribulation Period is over Satan will be bound for 1000 years and people will be able to live on earth as God meant them to. You may have a little time to prepare for the Tribulation. It may be a few months or a few years before the peace covenant with Israel is signed but once that covenant is signed you will have seven years of hell on earth. None of this time, now that the Church is caught out, will be pleasant. You may have already noticed that all the really good people are gone. Lawlessness will be rampant.
I can’t get too deep here since I’m not a theologian – heck – I can’t even explain the Trinity. After all the books I read I found the best explanation of the Trinity to me was a little poem I came across entitled:
The Trinity
Three in One
And One in Three
And the One in the middle
He died for me.
The One in the middle, Jesus Christ, is the One you need to concerned with right now. If you don’t remember any other bible verse remember John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It’s really so simple. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and if you will accept him as your Savior you will be saved. The world has tried to add or take away from this. It was just too simple for them to understand. A man was trying to explain salvation to a carpenter friend of his who has just finished making a beautiful cabinet, but his friend just didn’t understand. The man picked up a carpenter plane and started to plane the just finished cabinet. His carpenter friend screamed at him, “Don’t touch it, you’ll ruin it. It’s finished.” “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” the man said. “It was finished on the Cross when Jesus died for your sins. You can’t add to it or take away from it.”
If you don’t have one you need to get hold of a bible. They won’t be around too much longer. I prefer the King James Version but use what your comfortable with. Go to the New Testament and start with John. After you read John go back and start with Matthew and read the whole New Testament.
You’re already at one of the best sites on the web. Download it all; print it out, whatever you have to do. It won’t be here much longer. Becoming a Christian during this time is not going to be easy. You think Hitler’s persecution of the Jews was bad? The antichrist’s persecution of people who become Christians during this period will be much worse.
I’ve read so many books on the Second Coming of Christ but the best was a 72-page book entitled “The Second Coming of Christ” by Clarence Larkin. This book was written in 1917. Think about it. Israel didn’t become a nation again until 1948, yet in this book he tells you everything that will happen. How did he know – because his only source was the bible. He also wrote a book on Daniel called “The Book of Daniel” and on Revelation called “The Book of Revelation” and another one called “Dispensational Truth” – all great books. Try to get them if you can, at least “The Second Coming of Christ”.
Remember, when this seven year peace covenant is signed with Israel this will begin the start of Daniel’s Seventieth Week or as some call it The Reign of Antichrist. I cannot begin to explain the horrors you will experience. Even in the beginning of the “week” with the opening of the Seals there is trouble. The first seal a White Horsed appears. The rider is Antichrist, as he becomes the Chief Ruler of the revived Roman Empire. Some countries won’t want him there and the Second Seal, A Red Horse that signifies blood and the sword of war, will follow this. There will be a war like you have never seen. The Third Seal, A Black Horse, Famine and then the Fourth Seal, A Pale Horse, Death, will follow this. And this is just what man will do to man. You haven’t even got to the rest of the Seals, like The Plague of Locusts, the size of which you’ve never seen. And you still have The Seven Trumpets and The Seven Vials to go. In the First Trumpet a third part of the trees and all green grass will be burnt up. In the Second Trumpet a third part of the creatures of the sea will be destroyed. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.
I need to mention the “Mark”. I’m sure you have heard about it. Everyone has heard about the Mark of The Beast – you know 666. You won’t be able to buy or sell without it. So what! Don’t get it. Please, please, please, DON’T GET IT. If you do it’s all over. You’re doomed. Let me tell you about the very first Vial. “When the First Vial is poured out a noisome and grievous sore will fall upon the men who have the Mark of the Beast and who worship his image. This is a repetition of the Sixth Egyptian Plague.
There is one more piece of bad news that I need to tell you and I’m not sure how. I have a tendency to “sugar-coat” bad news but this can’t be sugar-coated. The only way I can see for you to get from where you are now to where we are now is that not only will you have to pass through great tribulation, but also you will probably have to suffer a martyr’s death for refusing to worship the “Image of the Beast.” It’s a shame. It really is. But you had your chance, just like the rest of us. It would have been so much easier back when the Church and the Holy Spirit were on earth for you to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. It’s going to be hard now, really hard, but you can do it. YOU HAVE TO DO IT. Look at it like I used to look at my life on earth. Even if I lived to be 100 years old, that compared to eternity would be like one tiny drop of water compared to all the oceans. It’s the same with you. Even if you have to suffer 7 years of hell and even if you have to die a martyr’s death; compared to eternity it is like a tiny drop of water compared to all the oceans.
Hope to see you soon.
Yours in Christ,
Clarence
If you are reading this and millions of people have just vanished off of the face of the earth, you have been left behind. There are several key points that you must know and understand in a very short time. Your eternal life depends upon this.
I look forward to seeing you in heaven!