The Rapture Before the Disaster (1): Does the Rapture Really Mean Being Taken up to Heaven?
Many believers in the Lord long to be taken up to the sky where they can meet with the Lord when the Lord returns. Now disasters grow worse and worse; the prophecies of the Lord’s return have been basically fulfilled; the Lord is very likely to have returned. However, many people are confused: If the Lord has returned, why have we not seen that anyone is raptured to heaven? What’s going on here? Let’s see what the Lord Jesus said: “Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:9–10). The Book of Revelation also prophesied: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven … And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev 21:2–3). “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15). These prophecies mention “coming down from God out of heaven,” “the tabernacle of God is with men,” and “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” It shows that God will establish His kingdom on earth and the destination God arranges for man is also on earth. Yet we always want to be raptured to heaven. Is that not our notion and imagination?
Actually, God never said that He would rapture us to heaven and we also can know this point from God’s work. In the very beginning, God created man with the dust on earth and placed man in the Garden of Eden to let them normally live on earth and worship God. In the time of Noah, God didn’t take Noah and his family to the air to let them avoid the flood, but instructed Noah to build the ark on earth practically. At the end of the Age of Law, people were all faced with the danger of being put to death for their violation of laws; God didn’t rapture them to the sky to save them but personally became flesh, came on earth, and practically did the work of crucifixion to redeem man from sin. From this, we can see that God has been always doing the work of saving man on earth and leading man to live and worship God on earth. However, we always yearn to be raptured into the air, which is obviously not in line with God’s will. So, what exactly is being raptured? If you have any idea, you are welcome to leave comments below! We will continue with our discussion tomorrow at the same time!
Do you want to learn more gospel messages about Jesus Christ’s return? Don’t hesitate to visit the website — Grow in Christ.
