He Has You

Dear Christian, whatever your view on the timing of the rapture, I pray your zeal for that view does not exceed your desire to love your neighbor. Chaplain Donald Warrick once told me, “If we can agree Jesus is Lord, we can talk about the rest.”

Don’t love your doctrine more than your neighbor. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:14 NKJV).

There will come a day when the true followers of Jesus Christ will be caught up and raptured to be with the Lord. According to Jesus, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36 NKJV).

Jesus is more interested that you’re always ready for the rapture than you know when the rapture will happen. The emphasis was always on readiness. Jesus taught us, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44 NKJV).

It seems there is more teaching about when the rapture will happen than there is teaching on making sure we are ready for it. Even if you knew the day and the hour, if you’re not ready, then you’ll get left behind.

It is not what you know that Jesus is interested in, but what you believe. Jesus said, “…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NKJV).

Most churches teach the timing of the rapture in relation to the timing of the seven years of tribulation. They teach that the rapture will happen just before the tribulation begins. What I know is the church got it wrong on His first coming, so what is so different now?

If you always think you’re right, you’re wrong. “Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel” (Proverbs 13:10 MSG).

I worry that the church is teaching a pre-trib message because it is pleasing to the flesh since we all don’t want to suffer. The teaching of suffering does not attract the crowds that so many churches desire. But throughout the Bible, God did allow His people to suffer.

Beware of the teaching that is pleasing to your flesh, for it might not be from God. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3 NLT).

Without a doubt, you could show me a Scripture that supports pre-trib. But what verses must you alter so that your premise will remain true? It seems to me that the wisdom of this world can always find a verse that supports the premise that they hold on to so tightly.

Now, perhaps it is right that there will be a pre-trib rapture. In that case, we will all gladly avoid any suffering here on earth. But I have prayed to God to let me stay so that I can minister to those who were left behind. Don’t be selfish when it comes to those who still need Jesus.

Faith lived is the gospel preached. A good teacher lives the lesson. The best teacher was the lesson. “Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11 NKJV).

But what will happen, dear Christian, if we do have to go through some tribulation before we are taken away? Have we prepared the followers of Christ for this? The more we preach prosperity, the less prepared we will help them to get through their poverty.

The higher faith will learn to say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” (Job 13:15 NKJV). This is a truth that wrecks the devilish doctrine of the gospel of health, wealth, and prosperity. This is the truth: you will suffer; praise God in your suffering; He has you.

But what if we do get taken away early on? Then, let us not forget that many who sit every week in our churches, as yet still unsaved, need to know what to do when they get left behind. When was the last time you prepared the unbelievers in church for what lies ahead for them?

Everyone likes to think that everyone they love is saved. But Jesus said very few will actually receive His free gift of salvation. I hope more people will get there, but I worry fewer actually will. I think He will wipe away our tears in heaven that we cried for those who aren’t there.

Jesus taught, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 AMP).

One thing stands glaringly true beyond all argument: whenever the rapture may happen, there are many who call themselves Christians who will be left behind. Let’s be more concerned about helping these souls get right with God than trying to agree with our opinion on rapture timing.

If you want to preach the love of Christ to the lost, you must prove it by loving them. “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11 NKJV).

Let’s also be concerned for all our friends and loved ones who are against the church and so will not be raptured. Let’s desire and pray for their salvation during the tribulation. They may not survive all that is ahead here on earth, but they can still be saved for all of eternity.

The greater you understand salvation, the more urgently you will try to draw others to it. “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV).

Blessings to you,

Paul Balius