For believers, looking at all the events taking place in the world today, there should be no doubt that this age on earth is coming to an end. About the only remaining prophecies are Israel being attacked by the Russia, Turkey, and Iran coalition, and true believers worldwide being taken up to meet our Savior in the air. The Rapture definitely precedes the tribulation, while the attack on Israel could start just before this and could carry over into the first part of that Tribulation/Wrath 7-year period. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
The attacks that have just taken place against Israel are a prelude to coming events, but not the Ezekiel 38-39 coalition attack, which is yet to come.
Paul confirms in 2 Thessalonians 2 that the believers must be gone before the tribulation can officially start. Looking at verses 7-10, “For the mystery of the lawlessness is already at work. Only He [Holy Spirit] who now restrains it [antichrist], will do so until He is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and be saved.”
God promised to keep all who have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10). Jesus told us that those who accept Him will be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him, nor knows Him. You know Him for He dwells with you, and will be in you.”
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s Temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” And 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
For the skeptics that say there’s no biblical “truth” to believe in, John 14:6: “And Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Satan loves for people to believe this is just a fantasy.
Some would say that when the Rapture takes place “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), that the unsaved will be convinced they need to convert and believe in Jesus. However, there are those who are so ingrained with what this world offers, they will not accept the truth. For that reason, we have 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
These will be the ones who voluntarily take the mark of the beast, which automatically sets the lake of fire as their eternal dwelling place. Looking at Revelation 14:9-11, “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice; ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night, these worshipers of the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.'”
Our Father will not leave us here to fend for ourselves during the 7-year tribulation/wrath. When the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth to allow the evil one to appear and rule through Satan for that time, we will be removed as well in what is called the Rapture, Harpazo, or taken up. After that, it will still be possible to call out to Jesus to be saved, but their fate will almost assuredly be martyrdom.
Right now, we may have ideas of how wonderful it will be to see Jesus in person and to be with all the saints of all time. However, I believe it will be even beyond all our expectations “Just Over In The Gloryland.” This just happens to be a hymn written in 1906 by James W. Acuff (1864-1932).
1.) I’ve a home prepared where the saints abide, just over in the Gloryland. And I long to be by my Savior’s side, just over in the Gloryland.
Ref) Just over in the Gloryland, I’ll join the happy angel’s band, just over in the Gloryland; Just over in the Gloryland, there with the mighty host I’ll stand, just over in the Gloryland.
2.) I am on my way to those mansions fair, just over in the Gloryland. There to sing God’s praise and His glory share; just over in the Gloryland. (ref)
3.) What a joyful thought that my Lord I’ll see, just over in the Gloryland. And with kindred saved, there forever be, just over in the Gloryland. (ref)
4.) With the blood-washed throng, I will shout and sing, just over in the Gloryland; Glad Hosannas to Christ, the Lord and King, just over in the Gloryland. (ref)
Because we believe the Word of God is true and accurate, we believe the time Jesus spoke of in Luke 21:28 is here. “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The beginning could be placed at about a decade age, and the progression is speeding up daily. We do not know the actual day or hour the Rapture will take place, but we can safely say, as Jesus stated in Matthew 25:44, “Therefore you must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
I believe the Father is giving extra chances for people to call out and receive Jesus as their Savior before it’s too late. (2 Peter 3:9) However, the day is rapidly approaching when He will say, “Son, go bring Your flock Home.” We pray daily for all loved ones, friends, and acquaintances to call out before it’s too late. The 7-year period of the Tribulation/Wrath will be worse than any time ever experienced on this earth.
God will force no one and allows us to choose for ourselves which eternity we will go into. He’s very specific that we will either be safe in the arms of our Savior forever or condemned to the lake of fire through all eternity.
Please consider carefully, and my prayer is that you would choose the One who shed His sinless blood for all who would receive and accept Him, and will call out for Him to forgive you and be your Savior forever.
Hope to see you at Home! Mara-natha!