My wife and I have always enjoyed watching the Rocky movies, specifically the first four. We were watching Rocky II one evening, and I happened to realize that Rocky had quoted part of a Bible verse.

Rocky was saying goodbye to his newborn son as he was preparing to leave and fight Apollo Creed once more for the heavyweight boxing championship. As he leaned over the crib, he told his son, “Don’t worry about nothin’.”

Philippians 4:6 begins with, “Be anxious for nothing.” Better translated, it says, “Don’t worry about anything,” or as Rocky would say, “Don’t worry about nothin’.” I like that.

Philippians 4:6-7 states, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Our world of today is topsy-turvy in what God originally intended for mankind. We are standing on our head, neck-deep in rebellion against a holy God. Many in our society who are still sane, Christians and non-Christians alike, are wondering what in the world has happened to us and how did it happen so rapidly.

As I look around at what we have become, I can only hear the gurgling of water as it quickly drains from the tub. We are dying spiritually and don’t even know it.

I am reminded of Noah and his world of many years ago, just before the flood.

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37-39).

In the book of Luke is recorded Jesus’ further example of the days of Lot.

“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-30).

We know that every imaginable sin against God was being committed in those days, just as they are today. We know they were going about their lives as if God did not exist but were suddenly awakened to the truth when it was too late. God’s patience ran out and was replaced with His judgment against all those in rebellion.

“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

Those of Noah’s day had never seen rain or waters gush up from the ground. They had never experienced a flood, but the flood of all floods was coming. For 120 years Noah warned his generation, but they would not listen.

Those of Lot’s day had no fear of God, but they too were destroyed. God rained fire and brimstone down upon them and destroyed them all.

For almost two thousand years, God has been warning mankind of judgment to come. Unfortunately, most of mankind is just as bull-headed as they were in Noah and Lot’s days. Most today are just repeating the actions of those of long ago.

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Most of you who know the Lord have probably heard those comments as you have witnessed to others about Jesus’ return. Listen to Peter’s response.

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment” (2 Peter 3:8-10).

Sometimes, even Christians will wonder why Jesus is taking so long to return for us, but “a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” That’s not all, though. Notice what Peter repeats in the next few verses.

“And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:15, 17-18).

Thank God for His patience. Because of His patience, many have had time to come to Him and be saved. That should be the way we look at it. Yes! Absolutely! We want the Lord to return, but our waiting a little while longer gives us more time to witness and for someone to turn to Him to be saved.

Peter closes by warning us to not be swayed by the wickedness that is all around us but instead “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

In the meantime, as we witness and prayerfully hope that others accept Jesus as their Savior, they too then could have the frame of mind … “Don’t worry about nothin’,” for we are safe in His hands.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

There are many more points, along with Scripture, I haven’t even elaborated on that show a clear difference between Jesus appearing at the Rapture and His second advent. Each is clear that the Rapture is prior to the Tribulation. One thing is sure, and that is only the Pre-Tribulation view works without spiritualizing some portion(s) of Christ’s return for His bride, the Church.

Now I would like to list some of the other points that indicate the Church is not in the Tribulation (in no particular order).

WHO WOULD POPULATE THE MILLENNIUM?

If the Church is not snatched away (raptured) by Jesus before the Tribulation, there will be no one to populate the Millennium that follows the Tribulation period, because there would be no Tribulation saints. Everyone saved during the Church age and during the time of Tribulation would have a heavenly body and be with Christ as His bride … if that were true.

When Jesus takes His Church (bride) out of this world to Heaven (Rapture), we (the Church) will all be changed. We will have spiritual bodies. We will be immortal and will not marry. The Church would not be capable of populating the Millennium.

Those saved during the Tribulation (Tribulation saints) and still living when Jesus returns with His Church at His second coming will populate the Millennium (Isaiah 65:20; Matthew 22:30; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 John 3:2).

IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE

When Jesus returns for His bride (the Church), it will happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). All those who have died in Christ since the inception of the Church will be raised first. Within the same “twinkling,” those of the true Church who are alive will immediately follow them in meeting Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The world will not be at war, and only the true Church will see Him.

To the contrary, when Jesus returns at His second coming, the world will be at war and every eye will see Him (Isaiah 63:1-3; Zechariah 12:9-10; Revelation 1:7; 16:16).

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

When Jesus comes for His bride, the Church, there will be no warning. There are no signs to be observed to warn of this event. One second the Church is here, the next second the Church is gone (Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6; Revelation 3:3).

When Jesus comes at the end of the Tribulation (second coming), His arrival can be determined to the exact day (Daniel 9:24-27; 12:11-12; Revelation 11:2; 12:6, 14; 13:5).

THE RAPTURE VS THE 2ND COMING

Jesus comes in the Rapture to present His bride to the Father, as in the Jewish marriage customs (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-9).

He comes at the end of the Tribulation, His second coming (or advent) to execute judgment upon the earth and to set up His kingdom, the Millennium (Zechariah 14:3-4; Jude 14-15; Revelation 19:11-21).

CLOSING

Again, there remain other points I have not listed that show the Church is not in the Tribulation. Hopefully, what I have mentioned will inspire some to search the Scriptures and come to their own conclusions.

Even though I believe without a doubt that Jesus will come for His bride, the Church, before the Tribulation, the most important thing is: have you put your trust in Jesus Christ to save you?

I believe the Rapture is very close, but whether it is or is not, we have no guarantee of our next breath.

“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation'” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

There may not be any signs for the Rapture, and there are not, but the shadows of Tribulation signs are all around us.

We are living in an age when the churches are nearly totally apostate. Very few who confess the name of Jesus are true followers. Regardless of the name over the door, the world has come in like a flood and watered down the Truth of the true Gospel to the gospel of Satan.

Families are being destroyed by liberal satanic viewpoints. I perceive the political world can get no worse, but then it does. Honorable sexuality that was created by God our Creator for procreation has been brought down to such depths of disgust, it is inconceivable. Criminals are protected while the innocent suffer.

Our lifestyle has changed so rapidly in just a few years, it boggles the mind. That would be admirable if we were improving, but alas, we have become corrupt beyond belief. We have this day fulfilled Isaiah’s words.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

Most of the world will laugh and be enraged at the following words, but let us understand one thing: this is God’s world. He created it. He owns it and will run it any way He chooses. He is God. He doesn’t need our help, and He hasn’t asked for our opinion. He gave us His rule book to follow. It is called the Bible. We can accept it or not. The choice is ours.

Folks don’t like to talk about it, but His judgment is on the way, and it is called the Tribulation. It will be seven years of hell on earth. Every person with a lick of sense needs to fall on their knees before Jesus and call upon Him to save them. No one needs to go through this terrible time if they don’t want to. If the Tribulation would start tomorrow, all who come to Jesus today would be saved and would be in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html