Is the Rapture Next?

When I was a child growing up in the church, several of us viewed the movie "Thief in the Night" which was a Christian movie about the rapture. This movie stirred a lot of people at the time with anticipation that the rapture would take place at any moment. All of my life I have heard about the rapture and that Jesus is coming soon. Events have come and gone where people were expecting this prophetic event to happen but it hasn't.

Here we are.

We are closer to it now. Many experts in Bible prophecy have concluded that nothing else needs to happen for the rapture to take place.

So what is the rapture?

This is an event where Jesus returns to take his believers from the Earth. Many refer to the Bible passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 which says that the Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command and the dead in Christ will rise first then those believers who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord.

Sounds a bit far-fetched doesn’t it?

Well, if you are looking at the prophetic map there would be a sign that indicates that "we are here".

The rapture is for believers, not a specific church denomination.

How will this happen? Will believers just disappear?

The only clue we have is in Matthew 24:39-41 where one is taken and the other left behind. I will admit that I do not have a scientific explanation on how this will happen. In many depictions I have seen or read about the rapture is that the physical bodies will suddenly disappear. I have also wondered if maybe the souls would be taken and physical bodies were left behind. I don't think anyone knows for sure. I can only image the media coverage of this event will spin this one out of control with their own theories and what they are told to say about it. Regardless of how it happens, it is definitely the next event to happen now that it appears that the Anti-Christ or the one who makes the way for the Anti-Christ will soon emerge.

Of course the experts do not agree on when the rapture will take place. There is a "tribulation period" which is a seven year period when God's judgment will come upon the Earth and many differ on where the rapture is on that timeline. Some think the rapture will take place before the tribulation, some think in the middle of it and others at the end.

I know this is difficult to believe and understand. It's a lot and there are so many different interpretations regarding the rapture and end times prophecy but the fact remains that Jesus foretold of his return. Here's what He told the disciples when they asked Him about signs to look for:

"Watch out that no one deceives you.  Many will claim to be the Messiah or Chosen one and deceive many."

I think it is pretty clear that we have seen recently - and will continue to see this played out in world politics.

"There will be wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom."

Currently there are 110 wars going on across the world.

"There will be famines and earthquakes in different places."

A total of approximately 1.9 million people experiencing some form of hunger right now in the world. There have been 1,374 earthquakes so far this year.

Do I write all this to scare you? No, not at all. We just need to be aware of what's going on in our world and be informed of how it all is playing out in Biblical prophecy. Again, I am no expert in this area. I don't think anyone knows for sure. What I do know is that the United States of America is weakened now and has elected a deceiver who will lead us down this path. We are definitely closer now than we have ever been before.

When You Feel Less Than Perfect

I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I have been my whole life. That isn't going to change and I am not ashamed of that.

Before you scroll past, let me assure you that even though I am a Christian, I am not one of THOSE Christians. I am not a believer who follows a politician or preacher. There is no one else but Christ. No other "chosen one" but Him.

Let me tell you that even though I am a believer, I do screw up sometimes. Sometimes they are huge. I don't have it figured out and many times I have to come back and repair the damage I have made. Being a Christian doesn't make me not human. I'm every bit human. I mess up but I don't give up. Many days I wake up and wipe the slate clean and begin with a new mind and focus.

I am not alone. The Bible is filled with less-than-perfect people.

Noah got drunk
Jonah ran away
Moses stuttered
Abraham was old
Lazarus was dead
Peter had a temper
David had an affair
Zaccheus was short
Martha had anxiety
Paul was a murderer
Jacob was a cheater
Gideon was insecure
Sarah was impatient
Elijah was depressed
Miriam was a gossiper
Thomas was a doubter
Rahab was a prostitute

We all have limitations and conflicts.  Even the Bible "heroes" had their issues but God still used them.  Becoming a believer in Christ doesn't make you above everyone and it certainly doesn't mean you have to be crazy.  

To be honest with you, I have some days when I just think I'm a failure.  How can God use me?  What good am I to Him?  There's nothing special about me.  I'm not a preacher, missionary or anything dynamic.  I'm just me.  Sometimes being me isn't easy.  I look at my life many times and see why God didn't give me any kind of ministry or calling.  I floundered so much with that early in my life.  I'm not sure I have found it but I just live one day at a time.  Some days are good and some days aren't so good.  

One thing I do is that I press forward.  It may not always be easy but it will be worth it in the end.  I refuse to give up.  I always think of that old hymn:

"I am determined to hold out to the end,

Jesus is with me, on Him I can depend.

And I know I have salvation, for I feel it in my soul,

I am determined to hold to the end."

God doesn't use perfect people, He uses people who don't give up and those who rise above their imperfections.  

Christmas Traditions, Lights and Plays

I love decorating for Christmas and putting up the Christmas lights.  I'm usually in charge of the outside decorations.  Even with the cold numbing my fingers, I still like being outside and stringing up the lights and any other ideas that pop into my head.  

No, I'm not competing with the neighbors and I certainly can't do as much as I used to but I do what I can. I just like doing it for me and my wife.  I do it for us.  

In my younger days I would scale the roof and put lights on top of the house and anything else I could put up there.  I really love the lights whether they are white or multi-color.  I'm never one to do the same thing every year and usually there is an idea in my head.  Unfortunately, my budget isn't enough to fund my ideas.  I still do what I can.

I almost gave it up one Christmas when someone stole a large portion of our decorations.  That gave me quite a punch in the gut.  I couldn't believe someone would do that.

Another one of my favorite things is to drive around looking at lights in different neighborhoods and any special light displays.  We usually go through Starbucks and get some hot chocolate, put on the Christmas music and find the best decorated neighborhoods.  

Growing up as a preacher's kid, I had many appearances in the annual Christmas play.  I was never any of the main characters, mostly a shepherd or wise man.  Some years the plays were very well done while others - well - the play still happened.  In the early years, we would all get a small bag of fruit after the play.  Once I even wrote and directed a play.  In later years, I did the music, sound and any special effects for the children's play.  Throughout my years in the church I was always involved with the play in some way.  

Family gatherings have been a mixed bag.  Never the same every year.  I kinda like it that way.  I know of many families that HAVE to do the same thing EVERY year.  That becomes a routine which takes the joy out of Christmas for me.  There were years I would be with my aunts, uncles and cousins but other years it was just me with my parents.  

Of course I have memories of Christmas presents I got as a child.  I remember getting my first G.I. Joe action figure, handheld electronic football game and my first computer game.  

So there have been some traditions I have enjoyed each Christmas.  They are memories that I always reflect on and couldn't possibly write about them in detail here.  I hope you all enjoy whatever traditions you and have create your own memories.  I think sometimes we focus too much on DOING Christmas and not ENJOYING Christmas. We get too busy trying to create moments instead of letting them happen.