The Timing Of The Rapture

I believe that the most effective way to interpret scripture is to begin by taking it at face value. It means what it says and says what it means. With this in mind we must then understand what is being said, who it is being said to and why.  We must also guard against approaching Scripture to find something hidden in the text that we have received by some “supernatural means” or through traditions that do not have their origin in clear biblical understanding. We do not seek to define Scripture, but allow Scripture to define us, for it is in this way that God reveals Himself to those who do not fully know Him, and we all see in part. There is much more to be said on this subject, but this is not the topic I am exploring today. With this said I fully believe in supernatural encounters and even traditions as far as they strengthen the biblical narrative as well as deeper revelation and understanding growing in us over time.

Now onto the matter at hand: The Lord’s Return. There has been no small debate concerning the Day of the Lord and the “catching away” of His church (body). Most of the controversy centers around timing. Will Jesus call His bride (church) to Himself before, after or during the period of time called the seven year tribulation. Let us take a quick glance at one small section of Scripture:

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [and] remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the 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. - 1Th 4:15-18 NKJV

In the book of 1^st Thessalonians Paul was addressing a group of believers who had been persuaded that they may have missed the Day of the Lord. His answer is very clear and plain and leaves little wiggle room for further interpretation. The “catching-up” that is the point of so much debate is placed at the same time as the return of Christ! It can also be clearly discerned that this event will not go unnoticed, there will be great “pomp and circumstance” as Jesus is appearing to be crowned king of the earth. There is very much that can be said, but I ask you to consider how this could be a secret event?

Now what is the importance of such things? It is the full manifestation of God on the earth and the deliverance of men from wicked governments and Satan’s handiwork. It is important to learn about these things because even though you may say everything will pan-out in the end, the question is whether or not it will pan-out for you. How we live is important.

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest [your] hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, [as] in your ignorance; but as He who called you [is] holy, you also be holy in all [your] conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." - 1Pe 1:13-16 NKJV

Awake, Awake O People

I see the end of America. It may be a long way off but the seed is a long time planted. I am not so sure of the germination time necessary for our demise to reach full bloom, but I am certain that the sprout has definitively broken the ground and begun to reach upward toward the sun.  You may disagree and hold out hope, and I would hope that you are correct, but the reality of our condition is far worse than you suspect. I only know of the travesty that surrounds life and the hopelessness that has penetrated the heart of a nation. Men of simple ideals are portrayed repeatedly as the enemy of progress, while the progression is leading us into a pit of destruction. Yes, progressives who are smug in their ideas to recreate humanity in their own image and likeness and hold not only no fear of God, but no time for Him, are forcing an ideology that cannot be sustained down the collective throat of America. I am no patriot though, for my hope is not the future of America, though I love the concept, my eggs are all in the basket of God’s Kingdom. I turn my cheek to be beaten by the arrogant evil of our day in order that it can be seen that there is no hypocrisy in God. There is One king, there is One ruler, and no one can overthrow His rule. His day is coming upon the whole earth and I rejoice in His goodness. As for America, I fear you are at your end. Here is a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. One stanza shy of the original.

Oh say can you see, at the end of the light

The glory of your freedom is approaching the night

Now those stripes and those stars are perverting your life

Will you just stand by and watch as they confound all reason

And our pockets are bare, our homes under siege

Most stand dumbfounded that our flag does not care

Oh, say does our constitution still carry any weight

Or are we defeated as cowards by our own halls of justice

The beaches still carry the sand and the seas

Moreover, the wind still blows freely through mountains and trees

However, our hearts are imprisoned by our leaders disease

To destroy from within and make our nation bleed

As our flag is the laughingstock across all the seas

Our enemies emboldened to take over our ways

Time to put down your beer can and begin to pray

Before we are defeated from our own halls of justice

In addition, where are a people who love freedom and peace?

Our imagination by false reason have sorely been fleeced

To pursue degradation as a rite of spring break

“I deserve” has become a mantra for the masses

No longer a nation with an ethic of value

We abort our babies while saving the animals

As we fight in the courtroom to preserve unknown values

We are defeated by deceivers in our own halls of justice

In the Face of Jesus

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:6


Are you in darkness? What an obscure term, darkness. How would you even know? Darkness cannot define darkness and neither can light define light, it is contrasts that bring definition. For good there must be evil, for right there must be wrong, for up there must be down, for right there must be left, for in there must be out, for truth there must be a lie.

Where does the definition come from? It is God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness. He is commanding us to allow His light to shine out of our darkness. His glory becoming very apparent as His strength is perfected in our weakness.

A child is told to look both ways before crossing the street. Is this right or wrong? The child is not interested in the motive of their instructor; he obeys or disobeys according to his own thoughts. Something else must define the moral or ethical value of their instruction.

While we were yet sinners God sent His Son into the world. Jesus is the visible representation of the invisible God. Everything we know about God must be defined by who Jesus is. If what we know about God is not consistent with whom Jesus is then we must throw it out.

As you look into the face of Jesus you will see the Father and your darkness will be turned into light and you will shine as sons of God.

A Message of Hope

Love. (Period) This is not just the message of God, it is who He is. We know love in that God laid down His life so that we could be restored to perfection. Eventually those who receive the work of Christ our Messiah will receive a new body and all tears will be wiped away. The promises of God in Christ Jesus are fantastic and beyond what we would call grounded in reality (No more sickness, no more disease, no more death).  I thank God, through Christ Jesus, that He has opened a door of Hope in the gospel message of forgiveness and eternal life for all who believe in Jesus. Come to Him today, cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. He is love.