The Bible teaches us in 2nd Peter 3:9 the attitude and mindset that every
believer should have concerning the Rapture. The Bible says that God is not
slack concerning His PROMISE, as some men wrongly judge of Him; but rather,
God doesn't want anyone to perish in their sins and go to Hell. It is easy
to misjudge God, which is why Proverb 3:5-7 tells us not to lean unto our
own understanding; but rather, trust in the Lord with all our heart, for He
knows all. My Lord knows the way through the Wilderness, all I have to do is
follow.
The only thing preventing the Rapture is souls that haven't been reached for Christ yet. Thus, soul-winning ought to be the very top priority of every Christian believer today. While we eagerly await the Rapture, let's reach as many lost sinners for Christ as possible with the glorious gospel. The entire reason why God hasn't returned yet, the only reason, is because God knows there are more people who are going to get saved. Think about that for a moment. God has chosen to hold back the hands of time in His longsuffering and love, because He desires for more people to get saved. What an awesome God!
If you are not saved friend, God is waiting for you. The Rapture is only being delayed for you, because God loves you so much. God is holding back the bus, loaded with passengers going to Heaven; but He is hoping for you to join Heaven's angel band on those distant peaceful shores. What are you waiting for... ALL ABOARD!!!
God told Abraham that if only 10 righteous (saved) people could be found in Sodom, that He would spare the city from divine judgment and utter destruction. Abraham couldn't find them. God knew this before Abraham ever began to search diligently for anybody who was saved in Sodom. God refused to destroy the righteous with the wicked. This is one big reason why we know that the Church will not go through the horrifying Tribulation Period, when God shall pour out His fury upon the inhabitants of the earth. Every believer will be Raptured (i.e., “caught up” as 1st Thessalonians 4:17 teaches). Most churches today are ruptured.
2nd Peter 3:9 tells us that the only thing preventing the Lord's return is lost sinners who have yet to be saved. God is holding back the hands of time waiting for you oh sinner, if you are not saved, to come to Christ Jesus for salvation. Thus, since soul-winning is the only reason why God hasn't returned yet; we ought to be soul-winning by preaching the redeeming Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth (Romans 1:16).
No one came to Christ during the 120-years that Noah preached. No one came to Christ in the city of Sodom, because they had no preacher of righteousness. Jesus said that Sodom would have repented had they seen the miracles which He performed in Capernaum.
Matthew 11:23, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”
It is clear from the teaching of 2nd Peter 3:9 that the Lord hasn't returned yet because He desires for all men to come to repentance unto salvation.
Sodom would have repented if they'd had the blessings that we have today, There were no printed Bibles at the time of Sodom. We are blessed to have modern printing presses today, so that the Word of God can be mass-produced for all people to read and study. Yet, so many people reject the Bible. We have the completed Word of God. Amen and amen!
There are some wonderful truths to be gleaned from this precious passage of Scripture:
First, the Lord Jesus PROMISES that He will return. The coming Rapture is a solemn PROMISE from our Wonderful Savior! Repeatedly throughout the Bible we are comforted that God does not, and cannot lie.
Second, we see evidence of the great heart of God in 2nd Peter 3:9, Who is not willing for any to perish. God desires even for the most wicked and hopeless human being to be saved. No one is beyond hope with God...
Isaiah 59:1, “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
God wants all to be saved. The Bible is clear in Isaiah 59:1-2 that it is only men's sins that hinder them from coming to Christ for salvation. Jesus clarified this truth in John 3:20, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved”; and again in John 6:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
Third, the only thing preventing the Lord's return is God's desire for more people to get saved, for this was the entire reason that Christ came into the world...
If you are unsaved, please know
that God has held back the hands of time for you oh sinner, desiring for you
to get saved. God is waiting for the very people who mock and scoff at Him
(challenging if He will return) to be saved.
Is the Pretribulation Rapture a New Teaching?
NO, the Pretribulation Rapture is not a new teaching. Although it is true that Cyrus Scofield popularized the heresy of religious Zionism, it is not true that he fabricated the teaching of the Rapture. A simple Bible study proves the latter. I have heard numerous people, from pastors to talk show hosts, claim that the Rapture is a new teaching that didn't exist until just a couple hundred years ago. Many websites teach this heresy as well.
However, the Bible plainly teaches the Rapture...
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren ... 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” —1st Thessalonians 4:13, 17-18
May I say, confidently, that the Bible teaches a Pretribulation Rapture of the saints. That is, the Lord will return at the onset of the 7-year Tribulation Period. The Church will not go through the Tribulation Period. Just as God spared Noah and his family of the flood, and just as God spared Lot and his family of Sodom's destruction, so will our God spare every believer from the wrath poured out upon the earth during the Tribulation.
I believe that the Words of the King James Bible are 100% preserved and inspired by God. Every last Word. Word-for-Word inspired. We clearly read in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 that all believers shall be “caught up” together in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air. This is the Rapture of the Church, which may take place at any “moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1st Corinthians 15:52).
So you see, the Bible does teach the doctrine of the Rapture. It is NOT a new teaching as some pseudo-scholars claim. Before the Bible was completed in A.D.96, the teaching of the Pretribulation Rapture was already contained in the Bible, in 1st Thessalonians 4:17. The Biblical doctrine of the Rapture has been with us for the past 2,000 years.
The body of every born-again believer will suddenly change, and be “caught up” into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The Bible says we will “meet the Lord.” Amen!
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon His face, the One Who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day, that will be!
I humbly look forward to meeting my precious Savior face-to-face, the One Who understands and loves me unconditionally because of Who He is. John 16:22, “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” Amen and amen!
Notice carefully that 1st Thessalonians 4:18 tells us to “comfort one another” with the teaching of the Rapture. What “comfort” would there be if we were going to suffer through the Tribulation? There would be no comfort; but rather, worry and mental anguish at the very thought of such horrifying events taking place in the world. Revelation 9:15 and 18 tell us that one-third (literally billions of people) of humanity will be killed during the Tribulation. In fact, the reason why God will limit the Tribulation to only 7-years is for the sake of those who will be saved during the Tribulation, lest all life should be destroyed completely (Matthew 24:22).
Another solid piece of evidence that supports a Pretribulation Rapture is the event known as THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION spoken of by Daniel the prophet. From this event we know it will be 3 1/2 years until the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. Yet, the Bible teaches that no man knoweth the time of the Lord's return, and that He will come as a thief in the night when men expect not (1st Thessalonians 5:2-4).
I believe that the Bible is God's inerrant, preserved and inspired Words. I believe that the Words of the King James Bible are inspired Word for Word. God's Word is inspired into whatever language it is translated into. God doesn't inspire a language, He inspires His Words. We have God's preserved and inspired Words today in the King James Bible.
The Bible teaches a Rapture of the saints, and it could occur at any moment. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Only 8 people survived the flood. Noah preached the righteousness of Jesus Christ for 120-years prior to the flood, but not one person repented. NOT ONE!!! Jesus foretold in Matthew 24:37-38 that the Last Days would be as it was in the days of Noah before the flood, when wicked people only live to eat, drink, marry, and party. We live in perilous times. People are NOT listening to God.
