We are in the middle of the spring storm season here in my state. Having just stayed up half the night and early morning listening to sirens screaming out tornado warnings, I sat thinking about some of the destructive reports from that line of storms. —That, and anticipating another round of severe weather building to our west in Oklahoma, in an area known as “Tornado Alley,” the origination point of the most devastating twisters on the planet.
When that news finished blaring those reports, I then switched to one of my favorite early-morning programs: Dr. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist of Dallas—Pathway to Victory.
He is in a series waxing eloquent on end-times prophecy. As part of the message that aired that particular day, Dr. Jeffress made some thought-provoking comments regarding the Rapture of the Church and what might be the attempted explanation for the millions of people instantaneously disappearing when Christ shouts, “Come up here!”
I have, myself, often waxed not-nearly-so-eloquently on that very topic, in sessions at churches and prophecy conferences across the nation and even out of the country. My firm belief, of course, is that we as a generation are in the times like they were in “the days of Lot” in Sodom, as forewarned by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
I have said and written frequently that I believe America might well have been the nation on the Lord’s mind when He gave the prophecy recorded in Luke 17:28–30:
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
The United State is the apex nation of history, in terms of human achievement and material wealth. This is in keeping with the biblical description of Sodom, where Lot lived. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities of greatest wealth.
Also like Sodom of Lot’s era, America is perhaps the most wicked geographical area of its time, exporting every sort of vileness, such as pornography, and embracing such evil as the murder of millions of children in their mothers’ wombs. Homosexuality is now at the heart of our nation, with LGBTQ, etc., ruling the roost under a presidential administration and leftist government that allow such Sodom-like behavior to bloom and control.
Thinking on the possible destruction effervescing on the day the thunderstorms were building to our west and listening to Dr. Jeffress talk about the coming destruction following the Rapture and the possible explanations for it, I considered a point I might have missed with regard to Jesus’ words about the days of Lot.
Dr. Jeffress conjectured that when the Rapture occurs, it could possibly be at a time of great catastrophe. That is, the Rapture could coincide with something such as nuclear war erupting at exactly the same moment, with missiles flying. This would provide those trying to explain the millions vanishing. For example, it might be said to be a physiological reaction and interaction within human bodies, with such unprecedented thermodynamics taking place.
I have believed and expressed that, like when Lot and his family were removed from Sodom by the angels, then Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed that very day, America, for example, will suffer great destruction when Christians leave in the Rapture. This scenario certainly seems to fit all things, like economy, societies, and everything else crashing at once and bringing a great cry for someone to rescue the world, to bring things back to the way there were before the destruction. This would be a perfect storm allowing Satan to bring his man of sin onto the stage of history.
Dr. Jeffress’ engendering the thought that the Rapture could take place during a great calamity caused me to consider Paul’s words as recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2. The prophecy tells us that God, Himself, will send “strong delusion” to those left behind after the Rapture. And God does that so all who wouldn’t accept His truth during this Age of Grace, and who will not do so following the great disappearance, will “believe a lie.”
The lie will no doubt include that the people who left were removed for reasons Antichrist and his regime will explain. We’ve examined before that UFOs might have a part in this great lie.
So, sudden destruction, like the sudden destruction of Sodom, certainly might take place at the same time the Church goes to be with Christ in the clouds of Glory.
Many of you might already have concluded this on your own, before my epiphany. But it’s an alteration, of sorts, to my thinking on these last of the last days.
It all fits better than my previous thoughts—that America, as one example, might suffer a more or less slow-motion collapse and eventual crash of the economy and of our national existence following the catching-up of the Church. Regardless, my original contention—that the Rapture will cause the great collapse of America and the world into chaos—remains unchanged. Dr. Jeffress’ TV presentation offers the real possibility, even the probability, that the great disappearance will take place at the same time of national and worldwide collapse in sudden destruction, exactly like in Jesus’ prophecy of Luke 17:28–30.
In any case, you don’t want to be on earth when whatever is going to happen happens. It will bring destruction far greater than any storm of nature one can imagine. Here is how to escape that coming time that will be like the day Lot and his family left Sodom and the city was obliterated. You can be within the safety of Christ’s arms forever, whether you’re entering Heaven through the portal of death or go to Him while you’re still alive at the time of the Rapture.
That if you will confess with your mouth the lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 9-10)
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Jesus said that before the Rapture, it would be “business as usual” (Matthew 24:36-38) characterizing a time like the days of Noah. He also added that the same conditions applied in days of Lot (Luke 17:26-28) as well.
Well, “business as usual” for me gives the impression that no really big shakeup of the status quo will happen pre-Rapture. Sure, we see the increase of all the signs of the Last Days already, but most of the world is totally clueless of this reality. But the literally earth-changing events are being held off until we are gone to meet Jesus in the air.
Another component of Noah’s and Lot’s time was that “business as usual” obviously incorporated a level of evil that just became accepted as normal by most people, their consciences “seared” and desensitized from chronic exposure to it.
When we look at how this very much parallels the world we see today, we know that we must be right up to that line that, once crossed, will trigger God’s direct and immediate response once again.
I expect the world has already raised one foot and is about to set it down over that line.
Brother Ed,
I have searched the scriptures earnestly trying to find any evidence of the world gripped by sudden judgement as a result of the Rapture of the Church, I have found nothing that indicates this.
We know from scripture that 10 Kings and their associated kingdoms will arise early in the 70th week. The AntiChrist rises from the midst of these 10 Kings. There appears to be a dramatic geopolitical shift that takes place preceding the rise of these prophetic figures.
Then there is the supposed claim by many scholars of a Peace or Security agreement between Israel and her enemies brokered by the AntiChrist. This theory is based on one obscure verse known as Daniel 9:27. Though I do not subscribe to this theory, I will play along.
Many scholars prescribe the entire Final week or 70th week as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble yet there is no biblical evidence to support this. Scripturally, we see that Jacob’s Trouble does not begin until the point of the Abomination of Desolation at the midpoint of the 70th week.
I realize that many prescribe the Seals as the Wrath of the Lamb yet Seals 1-4, identify with the Birth Pangs. Seal 5, martyred Saints are asking the Lord when will He send His Wrath and avenge them. Seal 6, the Kings and princes of the earth hide themselves in caves and dens asking the rocks to fall upon them to hide them from the Wrath of the Lamb to come. Seal 7, introduces the Trumpet Judgements.
The Trumpet and Bowl or Vials of Wrath are carried out by Angels, this is not the case for the Seals, which suggests the Seals are not the Wrath of the Lamb. Looking again in particular to Seal 5 and 6, we can see clearly that the Wrath of the Lamb had not yet taken place therefore we can conclude that Seals 1-4 are also not associated with the Wrath.
I will continue to search diligently to find any biblical evidence to suggest the world in panic or under cataclysmic judgement immediately after the Rapture. Thus far, this evidence appears to be illusive. I hope someone can assist me eventually to discover these things.
Your Brother in Christ
Hi, Rodney.
These are really excellent matters that you brought up. I’ll try to tackle all of them and hope I don’t miss any.
As far as chaos coming post-Rapture, it just seems like the sudden unexpected disappearance of millions of people all over the world especially, as I believe, all the children under the age of consent, including the unborn, suddenly vanish, it must certainly throw the world into a turmoil.
By the way, I am not convinced that untold multitudes of cars, planes, etc. will suddenly lose their drivers and pilots as portrayed in movies and stories of the Rapture. It is my personal opinion that believers will be given some kind of “heads up,” just as Noah and Lot did, though the latter’s was definitely more immediate. God doesn’t leave people in the dark concerning a momentous intent of his:
Amos {3:7} Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
We may not get the message directly, but some, perhaps many, will and God will make sure everyone who is supposed to get this information will.
I picture a time when a whole lot of people inexplicably decide to stay at where they are. If we see that someday a lot of people decide not to show up for work or school, etc. and that would be a big clue. This is just a possibility I’ve thought about.
The covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) , I believe, is not just a peace treaty with Israel, which I think is one provision of a global governance treaty that the nations of the world will endorse in the face of that turmoil caused by the Rapture. People will be looking for an “Answer Man” and the Antichrist will be the one they’ll see as fulfilling that role.
The “Time of Jacob’s Trouble,” actually starts when Israel signs on, but will only became painfully apparent 3 ½ years into the tribulation. It’ll show itself to be actually a covenant with “hell and death” (Isaiah 28:18-19) when the Antichrist betrays Israel and seeks to destroy it.
The wrath that God pours out, I believe, soon comes after we are gone. Since the persecution and martyrdom of those who come to accept Jesus post-Rapture does not begin in earnest until the beast’s 666 system (Revelation 13) comes into play, those killed for refusing to take the mark don’t show up until after the judgments have already begun. It is easy to imagine them wondering how long God will let their deaths go unavenged. I can totally understand that they want justice served. After all, don’t we, even now, long to be taken away and see the evil in this world dealt with?
As far as the deliverers of the wrath, whether it be angels or God himself, it is certain that God is the one who directs it. That makes all of the judgments which fall on the Earth his call, right from the start. Since God and Jesus are one, they are all the “wrath of the lamb.”
I may not have convinced you on these points, but that’s okay. My purpose was to let you know my conclusions and how I got to them.
Thanks for making me do some homework!
Brother Ed,
I appreciate your willingness to help me understand these things in providing your personal beliefs associated with them.
I struggle to see how Israel in the aftermath of Ezekiel 38/39 would entrust their security to anyone other than God. Israel today in their pride trust in their technology, military power, and various alliances and treaties to bring the peace and security. Amid, all these things they have forgotten the God of their salvation.
It is expected that God will bring Gog/Magog against His people Israel to bring them into remembrance of where their true security is found. Isaiah 28 speaks of the ongoing pride of Ephraim and Judah believing no harm would come to them as they remained in open rebellion against God and His sovereign will for them.
Isaiah 17 documents the fall associated with this pride and the consequences of it in verse 3. “The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts”- Isaiah 17:3. In verse 4, we witness the devastating consequences of this unrepentant pride.
“And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean”- Isaiah 17:4. The glory of Jacob (Israel) was always in their numbers identifying with the promise of God to make them as numerous as the stars of heaven. This passage further identifies that Israel will suffer severe loss at the time of the Destruction of Damascus and surrounding cities in the north.
In the past, false prophets in Israel would proclaim peace and prosperity to the ears of the King while their enemies made seige against their walls and prepared to carry them away into captivity. The same can be identified today as Israel trust in the Abraham Accords to bring them peace and prosperity. These efforts will not bring Israel peace or prosperity only poverty and crushing devastation.
The various Land for Peace initiatives brokered by the United States has not served to bring peace yet has compromised the security of Israel on all fronts. The tunnels in Egypt entering Gaza and the tunnels entering Judeah and Samaria from Jordan, exist as a testimony to the folly of trusting in these peace accords. Jihadists in Gaza and the so called West Bank have been smuggling weapons in these tunnels for at least a decade or more.
This covenant of “Death and Hell” of Isaiah 28:18,19 that must be annulled is that of pride associated with rebellion in not placing their trust in the God of their salvation. It is assured that Israel is presently being prepared to see the shame of such pride and the foolishness of trusting in chariots and horses. There are dark days ahead for Israel yet God in His mercy and loving kindness will redeem a remnant as promised. The Lord God is calling Israel to repentance and as Ezekiel 38/39 identifies God will deliver them yet not for their sakes yet for the sake of His Holy Name.
In Christ,
Rodney Dezarn
I wondered about that myself, how Israel would later on “sign up” with the Antichrist after being supernaturally saved from the Magog attack. I figure that the Antichrist will take the credit and will be so convincing as to not only fool them, but the whole world.
As an example, when we watch the gestures and mannerisms of Adolf Hitler, our take is that this guy was clearly insane. Yet, most of the German people were entranced by this madman. I have no doubt he was demonically possessed. We should keep in mind that Hitler was only a prototype. The A.C. will be the full-scale operational model operating in a world from which the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which believers had pre-Rapture is not present. This doesn’t mean he is absent, but operating differently, perhaps as he did on Old Testament times.
The arrangement that they make with the “man of sin,” is, I believe and as I mentioned before, is a “covenant with hell and death.” Literally, it’s a deal with the devil. When the A.C. betrays Israel 3 1/2 years into the agreement, he will successfully kill off 2/3 of them (Zechariah 13:7-9). Half of Jerusalem itself will fall as the Armageddon forces attack it (Zechariah 14:2) before Jesus comes back to stop the carnage (Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 19:17-21).
As I’ve said, I am not an expert, but this is what I’ve managed to put together so far which makes the most sense to me.
About Land for Peace, this is just another false deal. The situation in the Middle East was and is NOT about land, but the extermination of Israel. The Hamas Declaration comes right out and says so. Likewise, Iran, which is the instigator and supplier of the Islamic terror groups, has the same intentions and had made that abundantly clear. This is the only time these guys are telling the truth.
God gave the descendants of Jacob the land and no one else. No one has the right to divide it up.