Author’s note: In preparing for speaking on the topic RAPTURE READY! at the Branson conference a couple of weeks ago, I looked through my files of articles I’ve written over the years. This one is most appropriate. I share it again here.
We have looked a number of times in this column at those who mock the end-times message and the Rapture in particular. Because those who scoff have been of the abrasive, unbelieving variety for the most part, there is a standard Bible verse reply I’ve usually employed in response.
The scriptural reply has most often been intended to let those mocking know that they are, in actuality, fulfilling Bible prophecy.
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3-4)
As of late, however, such a reply doesn’t quite fit that which should compose an appropriate response. That is because the questions are coming weekly from genuine believers in the Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church. These Christians are worried–some very worried.
These look around them and on every side they see and feel the satanic pressures from this fallen sphere closing in. Issues and events –the very ambience in which they find their lives engulfed–generate thoughts that their circumstance is beginning to look much like the Bible’s description of the Tribulation itself.
To illustrate the growing angst, I’ve chosen the email of one such Christian brother who wrote this past week. His words pretty much get right to the point of the many other emails expressing like emotion. Here it is in its entirety:
Why is the Lord delaying the rapture? It should have happened years ago. We would be in the millennium now enjoying true peace and prosperity without the suffering. I don’t get it. It’s God call of course but 58 million aborted babies in the US since 1973, Christians tortured and murdered worldwide, people who believe in Jesus longing for his return suffering immensely. I don’t get it where is our Lord and Savior?
The emailer didn’t use any soft nuances of greetings or any other niceties. He just laid his spirit-distressed emotions right out there.
You don’t answer such gut-wrenching concern with the apostle Peter’s prophecy as given above. This child of God is worried. He is puzzled; he is perplexed. It’s the kind of questioning I’ve heard in my own kid’s anxieties when they were young and felt disappointed for one of my failures or the other to keep a promise. “Dad should never let me down like that” is the tone.
Only, this perceived unkept promise isn’t from an imperfect, human father. I say “perceived unkept promise” because the promise isn’t unbroken whatsoever. The error is in the question of the imperfect child asking it. His Perfect Father will, as always, be one hundred percent faithful to keep every promise made.
The Lord Jesus, Himself, in His ascended position, said the following to John the Revelator:
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
Jesus said it, and that means the Heavenly Father said it–promised it! Jesus said that He and the Father are One. They are inseparable–one and the same–the first and second Persons of the Godhead–the Trinity.
God cannot lie, the Scripture tells us. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God keeps His promises. So, this brother in Christ, like all the other believers who look to the “blessed hope” of Titus 2: 13, who are in fear and worry while watching this fallen world closing in, need an answer from the Word of God.
The Heavenly Father gave the answer to Peter to pass along to us, just a bit farther on in Scripture. The answer to why the Rapture hasn’t occurred as soon as almost all of us wish it would occur is, at least in part, wrapped up in the following:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
The Tribulation that will follow this Age of Grace will be filled with horrors that even John, under divine inspiration, had trouble describing. The Lord wants to provide every moment possible during this present dispensation for those lost in their sin to come safely into the shelter who is His beloved Son Jesus Christ. God wants this for the lost, because, following the Rapture, making the decision to accept Christ for salvation will be more difficult by a multiple of factors. Facing beheading is but one of those factors!
That is the reason–or at least a primary reason–the Rapture hasn’t yet occurred in this generation, according to God’s Word.
That said, I must take notable exception with the emailer’s contention that God is “delaying” the Rapture. You can take this to the bank–well, to the banks the way they used to be–God is not delaying the Rapture. It will happen precisely in the twinkling of the eye at the moment the Father has determined.
Jesus said: But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36)
God knows exactly the instant He will send His Son to get His Bride, make no mistake. There is no delay.
On that note, issues and events closing in on us show that we are almost certainly very near that exhilarating moment of instantaneously finding ourselves face to face with the Lord Jesus. Just how near we are to the Rapture–if we could indeed know–would likely allay all fears.
We want all people to come to the Lord Jesus for Salvation, thus to be Rapture Ready when He Calls believers to Himself.
Let’s tell everyone with whom we contact how to leave this Judgment-bound earth and to be with Jesus and the safety of Heaven. Here again is that message.
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 
False doctrines of the last days. Secret Rapture.,…….where in the bible?
The Rapture is not secret. And it is true. Please do a serious study of the topic rather than scoff.
If you believe such things, well, congratulations. Nothing will be able to change your mind, no matter how distorted it is. This is a prophetical fulfilment for the last days. Have a good day.
Check out 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-6. Here, Jesus return comes unexpectedly and it is a big surprise to most of the world. Contrast this to Matthew 24:27 when the whole planet will see him return. Now, in order for both of these statements to be true, they must be describing two different events at two different times.
Also, believers (the church) are not destined for wrath, which is what will be poured out on Earth during the Tribulation which precedes Jesus; Second Coming (1 Thess. 1:9-10; 5:9-10); Revelation 3:7-10) Note: the Philadelphian church not only was an historical one of the First Century, but it represents the True Church of today. It is tiny compared to all the apostate churches which now exist.
There is a lot more an Terry has done exhaustive writing on this. You should be able to find his commentaries here or at Rapture Ready.
Hope this helps.
Terry you are so right! God’s promises are sure and His plans are perfect. Impatience is built-in to our fallen natures and when we don’t get what we want, when we want it, we blame God.
Since the conference in Branson, the verses in Galatians 4:1-5 daily come to my mind:
“1-I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2-but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4-But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5-to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ”
These verses assures us that we are under the guardianship of our Father. The fullness of time for the coming of His Son, Jesus, in His first and second appearing, are set by God for His perfect purposes.
At some point, the cup of prophecy will be overflowing. It will not be almost full, or at the top, it will be overflowing. Now is very much like that previous time, when the Jews who waited over 400 years after they were restored to Jerusalem, were desperate for their Messiah. They were under the tyrannical rule of Rome and it’s proxy, Herod the Great. They were tired, they were oppressed, they had given up the hope of His coming…and sadly most missed it.
I want Jesus to come very, very much and am weary of the sin in this world, especially my own. While I don’t like what we see happening, the sinfulness, the selfishness, the mockery of our Lord, I also see God at work all around us, every day! Eyes to see and ears to hear…
He has not forgotten us, He is not torturing us, He is patient and loving and kind…and His plan is right on track. I believe that proverbial cup is to the full, perhaps even trickling over the rim now. We must trust in the Lord and share His salvation with others while there is still time.
I listened to Bill Salus’ analysis of the situation in Syria (YouTube with Mondo Gonzales) and he said what is going on there is moving us even closer than ever to the 7 year peace agreement. And he said excitedly, “I believe we could be Raptured now at any moment.” I was really encouraged by this interview because Bill is, as a rule, thoughtful, not hyperbolic, in his comments.
Soon, very soon!
Maranatha!
Very good perspective, as always, Robin.
Glad you got to go to the conference and that you go so much out of it.
Keep fighting that good fight!
God bless!
that doctrine is a total distorsion of the holy scriptures. There is nothing, absolutely nothing to support such a thing. Have a good day. God bless you.
Please look at the responses to your earlier comment.
I do agree with you that when one has resolutely made up his or her own mind, no amount of evidence will change it.
SO . . . . I’m not gonna try any further!
I wish you well.
14-year-old Matthew from Kansas, killed by lightning, claims Jesus showed him the Rapture. He asked why and Jesus said it was because He is coming. So he asked when it would occur and Jesus told him “2025.” Matthew 24:36 says that “of that day and hour knows no man..” However, admittedly, it doesn’t say we wouldn’t know the year. We can also know “the season.” — Teen’s NDE – Jesus Said Rapture 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yelnc3Glkw0
In a recent prophetic word a woman was told by God, “I have restrained My anger but no more! I need to gather My children. I need to take them out. This is the last warning!” Then she was shown Jesus being told by God, “Go get My children!” No date was given, but she saw that in the middle of disasters, an army marching and a nuclear attack, God’s children were taken. “It was almost like Jesus’s escape was fireproof because we were so close to the fire He had to cover us. We were so close to the danger because the Rapture happened in the very last second.” [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD6WdeAGSTQ ]
Thanks Terry!
This is where the child like trust comes into play. I know it’s hard to do especially for me!
God Bless all of you!
Well said brother Terry. God is not slack regarding his promise, ———not willing that anyone should perish but all should come to salvation. When we look at this particular scripture we can take comfort knowing that God does not want anyone to perish but to come to repentance. This fact alone should comfort us because many would go to hell if the rapture happen today. We too does not want anyone in Hell, so let’s wait patiently for God to do His works. May be we could help by praying more fervently for those lost in their sins.
I believe there will always be scoffers and unbelieve. Especially towards the end. They cannot see the truth that’s right in front of them like we can. Holy Spirit is not in them. Great article Terry as always. Chris
Yep!
Peter said this exactly:
2 Peter {3:3} Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, {3:4} And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation. {3:5} For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: