LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPPER TAKER, NOT THE UNDERTAKER
LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRIST COMING FOR HIS BRIDE, THE
CHURCH
Things are happening before our very eyes. The incredible end time events
just in my generation are causing many to ask what lies ahead for the
earth. Today, there is a growing fascination with Bible prophecies
regarding the last days. This tremendous interest provides us (born-again
believers) with the greatest opportunity to witness in our lifetime – Bible
prophecy unfolding before our very eyes.
Thank God, He has not left us in darkness concerning the general time,
the season of Christ’s return. The fulfilment (of dozens) of prophecies in
my generation indicate that His coming back to earth is very near.
Personally, I do expect things to get much worse before that time comes
both financially and economically along with major civil and geopolitical
unrest worldwide including conflicts and wars globally. Believers who
study the Bible know that Christ’s prediction (Rev. 13:16-17) of a coming
day when one person will take control of the entire global economy is
technologically and politically very near. In fact, the biblical and
technological evidence tells us that a cashless society and one-world
economy are not only possible, but inevitable.
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Technologically, we are still not there for the Antichrist to take over the
whole world once believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air and
taken to heaven but it’s getting close once they introduce Digital IDs and
Digital Currencies (cashless society). It may take a couple of years to
work out all the bugs from this new cashless system but when that time
comes, I do expect a worldwide economic meltdown and a total reset of
the world’s financial system to set the stage for the entrance of the
Antichrist. Because of the worldwide economic meltdown, the Antichrist
will be Mr. Fix-It and he will have all the answers to the horrendous
problems mankind will be facing and the world’s masses will follow him
and readily enthrone him in their hearts as this world’s savior.
The events we see occurring today are preparatory for the coming sevenyear tribulation period and can be tracked as setting the stage for the
future. The world today is like a stage being set for a great unfolding
drama. The major actors are being put in the wings waiting for their
moment in history as well as the main stage props being put in place. The
prophetic play is about to begin. All the necessary historical developments
have already mostly taken place and there are no future prophecies that
need to be fulfilled before the great day soon when the heavens will
open “with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
triumphs of God (1 Thess. 4:16).
Yes, the Bible tells us that there is coming a day when millions of people
will be evacuated from this world in an instant. It will be a time of chaos
never before experienced on this earth. Those of us who study the
Scriptures and are watching what is happening in the world today believe
that the time for that event is drawing near. The event that I am describing
is what the Bible calls the “great catching up day” – the Rapture.
”For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
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voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will 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. Therefore comfort one
another with these words (1 Thess. 4:16-18).”
The signs of our times are screaming that we are on the threshold of the
tribulation period and that means, in turn, that Jesus is at the very door of
heaven, ready to step out and come for His bride – the Church – His
universal body of believers.
A PROMISE GIVEN…. A SPECIAL PLACE
To any careful reader of the New Testament it will be obvious that before
Christ left the earth He promised to return. He spoke of going from His
disciples to prepare a place for them and of coming again to receive them
onto Himself. No date was specified in the promise – simply that He
would “come again” for them. The following words “…that where I am,
there you may be also” (v.3b) make it clear that the Lord Jesus was not
speaking of reappearing to the disciples after His resurrection. The
promise is clearly connected with the “Father’s house” (v.2) and
concerns bringing His disciples there.
Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you will be also (John
14:3).” This passage is about love, betrothal, and the wedding. In the
Jewish culture of the day, the bridegroom prepared a dwelling place for
his prospective bride. When the new home was ready, he returned for her.
Like wise, this heavenly home is being prepared for the Church which is
also called the bride of Christ (John 14:1-3) Rev. 21:1-6).
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THE RAPTURE IS THE “CATCHING AWAY” 1 THESS. 4:17)
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be Caught Up together with
them (believers previously deceased) in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” The Rapture is that
glorious event in which the dead in Christ will be resurrected, living
Christians will be instantly translated into their resurrected bodies, and
both groups will be caught up to meet Christ in the air and taken to heaven
(John 14:1-3, 1 Cor. 15:51-54, 1 Thess. 4:13-17).
Though some dispute the reality of the Rapture, the teaching is certainly
biblical. A day is coming when the believing church will be caught up –
“snatched away” to be with the Lord. The word “Rapture” is a Latin word
that means to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out. The early church,
in fact, believed so strongly in Christ’s imminent return that Christians
greeted one another with the word maranatha, meaning “Oh Lord,
come (1 Cor. 16:22).” The belief buoyed the early church during
suffering and persecution. That is why the Rapture is also called “the
blessed hope.” It is the hope above all hopes. This joyful expectation of
the any-moment return of Christ is about love, meet and seeing Jesus faceto-face, a new resurrection body, a new nature, a new heavenly home, a
reunion with believing loved ones, and the church’s removal from the
earth before the coming terrible seven-year tribulation period on earth.
The fact that Christ promised to keep the church “from the hour of
testing (Rev. 3:10)”, all point to the primacy of the rapture before the
tribulation. Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 reminds us that true
believers are “not appointed to wrath (Day of the Lord – the
tribulation).” It is very obvious that according to Scripture that the Lord
will deliver us from the tribulation period. “And to wait for His Son from
heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from
the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10).” This verse makes it crystal-clear that
Jesus delivers us from the coming period of judgement when the wrath of
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God will be poured out on the unbelieving world that has rejected His
Son. Also, in Daniel 9:27 the seven-year tribulation period is described
as “the time of Jacob’s trouble (Israel’s trouble).”
The rapture is not merely a theological truth, it is also a practical truth.
Paul exhorted the Thessalonian believers to “comfort one another” with
the facts of the rapture (1 Thess. 4:18). For the born-again believer, the
rapture is not only a source of hope but the rapture should also motivate
followers of Christ to make their lives count every day – to live with
eternity in mind. Since the rapture can happen at any moment, as bornagain believers we should increase our commitment to Christ and share
with others the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection – the
gospel of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:3-5).
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING JESUS
This earth is not our final destination. This earth is just our holding place
and this is not where we belong. This is only our creation place where we
were created, given a soul and a spirit, taught about the things of God,
coming to know who He is and to love Him, and then looking forward to
being with Him forever. Simply, we’re here on this earth to love God,
to talk to Him, and to have a relationship with Him. That’s it in a
nutshell.
“…. And so shall we ever be with the Lord…” This sentence brings me
so much joy in my heart. To me seeing Jesus and belonging to Him forever
and ever is the only thing that truly matters in this life. Seeing Jesus means
being with Him forever and never ever being separated from Him again,
in the body and in the spirit. This thought should fill us with so much joy
and gladness. We should all be looking forward to meeting Him, because
loving Him is what we’re going to be doing for eternity.
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IN CLOSING ….
We are very fortunate to be living in this final generation because this
generation of born-again believers will never pass through death’s door.
They will be alive on earth in their mortal bodies, and suddenly, in an
instant, they will be with Christ in their immortal bodies. What a moment
that will be. This is why, we as born-again believers, are looking forward
for the “Upper Taker,” not the undertaker.
I know I probably shock people when I say that I’m looking forward to
the ‘Upper Taker” and not the undertaker. But it’s true. It is something I
look forward to. Sometimes in my prayers I mention that I would like to
experience the rapture, God willing. What a way to go and leave this
world.
Now, I’m also a practical person that if Jesus does not come first, my body
will be buried. Both Diane and I have purchased a burial plot 13 years
ago. But even though we do have a burial plot we’re still looking forward
to the “Upper Taker,” God willing, and not intending to use that plot.
“Goodbye cruel world, were off to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we
shall always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17).”
Oscar