“All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong.” Abraham Lincoln
Month: April 2026
Light in the Last Days – Day 48
Why is the timing of the Rapture such a divisive topic? While the disagreement among Christians is discouraging, the Word of God offers a verse so clear it settles the heart. It’s one of my favorites, and it points directly to a pre-Tribulation departure. The key is in the promise to ‘escape all these things.’ You don’t ‘escape’ something you have already lived through; you are delivered from it before it arrives. To see the ‘things’ Jesus is referring to—the signs, the terrors, and the judgments—take a look at Luke 21:6-35. Let’s listen closely to the Lord’s own words on the matter.
Luke 21:6-35 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (7) And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? ( 8 ) And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (9) But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. (10) Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: (11) And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (12) But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. (13) And it shall turn to you for a testimony. (14) Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. (16) And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. (17) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. (18) But there shall not an hair of your head perish. (19) In your patience possess ye your souls. (20) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (21) Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. (24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (25) And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (29) And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (30) When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (31) So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. (32) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (33) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (34) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (35) For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (36) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
By the time the Tribulation reaches its conclusion, every judgment and trial mentioned by Christ has already unfolded. If the Rapture were to occur then, the concept of ‘escaping’ would be meaningless—there would simply be nothing left to escape. Furthermore, Jesus specifically instructs us to pray for the worthiness to avoid these coming terrors. Why would we pray for an escape from events that have already passed? The only event following the Tribulation is the glorious inauguration of the Millennial reign of our Savior and King. To understand why this must be the case, we must look at the unique promises God has made to the Church and why He would never subject His own Bride to the hour of His wrath.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 5:29-30 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
It is a fundamental biblical truth that the Church is the Body of Christ, with Jesus Himself as the Head. The Apostle Paul illustrates this by comparing us to the members of a physical body—unified and inseparable. This raises a vital question: why would Christ pour out wrath upon His own Body? In Revelation 6:16, we see those on earth pleading for the mountains to fall on them to hide them from ‘the wrath of the Lamb.’ If the Church were present during this time, it would imply that the Savior is at war with His own members. Why would the redeemed cry out to hide from the face of their own Savior and King?
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member, but many.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
If we are indeed the body of Christ, why would Christ allow His own body to go through the Father’s wrath? (Ephesians 5:29) Jesus Christ is God and, therefore, won’t bring wrath upon Himself. It makes perfect sense! We must understand this teaching in order to believe in the promise of a pre-Tribulation Rapture. As we learned in the study on the Book of Revelation, the Church at Philadelphia was promised that she would be kept from a time of trial to come upon all the earth.
Revelation 3:10 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.
Not since Noah’s flood has a trial come upon the entire world. This verse must, therefore, refer to the Tribulation period. Furthermore, that same verse says: “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation.” The Greek for the word “from” is “ek” which means “out of”!
Who will the Lord keep from the hour of temptation? The Church is the only logical answer! The word “church(es)” is not found at all after chapter 3:22 of Revelation. It reappears in Revelation 22:16-17 when it is also referred to as the Bride! What husband would allow his wife to be tortured, possibly beheaded, as well as allow her to suffer the wrath of God? None would, especially our Lord, our Groom!!
Do you see how when all the verses are put together, they form the pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint? Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by Pastor Gary Hamrick
The Book of Life is mentioned 8 times in the Bible and refers to those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. Is your name written in the Book? Pastor Gary Hamrick
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Light in the Last Days – Day 47
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the timing of certain events and how we describe the ‘near future.’ We often throw around the word imminent… just what does that mean? As I have said before, the definitions I use come from Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. He defines it as: ‘Hanging over; impending; appearing as if falling or about to fall; threatening; near.’ When we look at it through Webster’s eyes, ‘imminent’ isn’t just soon—it is hovering right above us.
It saddens me to see how often the Body of Christ is divided over the timing of the Rapture. While many scholars argue for different timelines, I believe there is something uniquely vital about the pre-tribulation position: it is the only one that treats His return as truly imminent. Other views inadvertently turn our focus toward the appearance of signs, the Antichrist, or specific tribulations. But the pre-tribulation hope keeps our eyes fixed upward, knowing that He could come for His bride at any second.
Imagine a homeowner who receives a tip that a thief will be breaking through his front door at exactly 8:00 p.m. You can be certain he wouldn’t be caught napping; he would have the lights on, the doors barred, and his eyes glued to the window. He would be ready because he had a schedule. But what did Jesus say? He warned us in Matthew 24 that His return would be the ultimate disruption of our schedules. He won’t arrive on a timeline we’ve circled in red; He comes at an hour we do not expect, precisely to see who has stayed awake out of love and duty, rather than just reacting to a clock.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
In the ancient Galilean wedding traditions of Jesus’ day, the timing of the groom’s return was a kept secret; he could not go to retrieve his bride until his father officially declared that the wedding chamber was prepared. This cultural backdrop provides a perfect parallel to the pre-tribulation Rapture. Just as the bride lived in a state of constant, expectant readiness, we too look for a Savior whose return is not dictated by a calendar, but by the Father’s command. It is the ultimate ‘thief in the night’ scenario—a moment of joyous intrusion that catches the world entirely off guard.
Matthew 24:42-44 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (43) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (44) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
God is a God of specificity, often marking biblical events down to the exact day. We see this in the prophetic timeline of the Tribulation, which is meticulously mapped out with clear milestones. If the Church were intended to endure that time, the Rapture would no longer be a surprise—it would be an appointment at the end of a countdown. But we are called to watch, not to calculate. It is telling that the New Testament epistles are devoid of manuals for surviving the Great Tribulation; rather, they are filled with calls to find peace in Christ’s imminent return. We are told to comfort one another with these words, a task that would be impossible if we were first destined for the wrath of the seven-year scroll.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
If the Church were destined to endure the seven-year Tribulation, Paul’s instructions to ‘comfort one another’ would seem almost cruel. How can one find comfort in the promise of unprecedented seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath? The believers in the first century were no strangers to pain; they lived under the heavy hand of Roman persecution. Yet, in the midst of their daily trials, they found joy in the belief that Christ could return at any moment. This expectancy is our ‘Blessed Hope.’ It is the only message capable of providing true edification—the promise that we are not looking for the Antichrist, but for the Savior.
Scripture is far from silent regarding the days leading up to the Great Tribulation. From the ‘perilous times’ described in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 to the rise of scoffers mentioned in 2 Peter 3:3-4, the evidence is clear and mounting. Jesus Himself detailed these labor pains in Matthew 24:3-51 so that His followers would not be left in the dark. As we witness the convergence of these signs, we understand that our window of time is narrowing. The promise is nearing its fulfillment; lift up your heads, for the King is at the door.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
We live in a world of uncertainty, but your eternal destination doesn’t have to be one of them. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here today to hear this warning and this promise. If you are not already a part of the Body of Christ, the door is still open to be born again. Don’t you desire to be part of that glorious moment when the Church is raptured? Imagine the joy of meeting the Lord in the air and escaping the darkness to come. The invitation is yours—accept it today. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by Pastor Jack Hibbs
We’re running out of time to warn you! The end is near, and Jesus is coming soon. Don’t wait until it’s too late! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJB).
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Quote by George Washington
I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world. George Washington
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Light in the Last Days – Day 46
Now that we’ve established the “what” and the “who” of the Rapture, it’s time to talk about the “where.” A common misconception is that the Rapture and the Second Coming are the same event, but the geography tells a different story. While the Second Coming brings Christ all the way to the earth, the Rapture is a divine rendezvous in the sky. Today, we’re diving into why the distinction matters: the fact that the Church is called to meet Jesus Christ in the air, rather than waiting for His feet to touch the ground.
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The geographic location of the Second Coming highlights its difference from the Rapture. The same feet that left the earth from the Mount of Olives two thousand years ago will return to that exact location. This literal “touchdown” in Jerusalem marks the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of Christ’s earthly reign. His return will to the Mount of Olives will transform the local landscape with a massive earthquake that creates a new valley for those seeking refuge.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Because the Church meets Jesus in the air, the Rapture must occur before the Tribulation. This event is defined by the Greek word Harpazo, which means to be “caught up” or “snatched away.” We will be suddenly taken into the clouds to meet the Lord and accompany Him back to Heaven. In that instant, our physical forms will be transformed in the “twinkling of an eye,” trading our earthly bodies for eternal ones modeled after Christ’s resurrected body. While the world might witness the Church ascending, the transformation itself happens too fast for the human eye to capture.
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Heaven cannot accept an earthly, corrupt body. This is why a change has to be made.] (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [Jesus will bring the souls of those believers who died before the Rapture to meet their glorified body in the air.] (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I can hardly imagine the glory of that day! For me, the wait began in April 1980, and my heart still longs for the blessed hope promised in Titus 2:13. If you haven’t made the decision to follow Christ, consider that God has placed you here “for such a time as this” to hear the Gospel. Why stay behind when you could be part of the Church’s great assembly in the clouds? You can secure your place for that heavenly meeting right now. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by Billy Graham
You can be born in a garage, but that doesn’t make you an automobile. You can be born in a Christian home, but that doesn’t make you a Christian. Billy Graham
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Light in the Last Days – Day 45
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
As we look at John 14:1-3, we see a glimpse into God’s timing for His people. This passage identifies the participants of the Rapture, the initial phase of the end times scheduled to occur before the Tribulation. We must not confuse this with the Second Coming, when Jesus returns to earth to destroy the False Prophet and the Antichrist. The Rapture is not about establishing an earthly kingdom yet; it is about the Lord coming to take His Church to the place He has prepared.
Exactly who will take part in the Rapture? While we find the promise of the event in John 14, the Apostle John provides the specific “entry requirement” earlier in his Gospel. In John 3:36, he writes, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” This verse acts as a spiritual dividing line. The Rapture is not a general event for all of humanity; it is a specific gathering reserved for those who have placed their complete trust in Jesus Christ. For the believer, the Rapture is a rescue; for the unbeliever, it marks the beginning of a period where God’s wrath remains upon the earth.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
To be a believer is to be secure. The Apostle John reminds us that whoever believes in the Son “hath everlasting life”—it is a guaranteed inheritance that begins the moment we trust Him. Because our sins were judged at the Cross, we no longer fear the wrath that “abideth” on those who refuse to believe. While the unbeliever remains spiritually separated, we have been brought into the light. Our future is not one of fear or judgment, but of eternal fellowship in the very presence of the God who loves us.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Scripture is explicit: God’s wrath is not a random occurrence, but a consequence to be received by those who refuse the gift of salvation and ignore His Word. The Apostle Paul reminds us that while believers once lived under the influence of this world’s “prince,” that chapter of our lives is closed. We are no longer “children of disobedience.” By highlighting this distinction, Paul emphasizes that the coming judgment is for those who continue in their rebellion, whereas the believer has been set apart and delivered from the wrath to come.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [Born-again believers “in time past” walked in disobedience, but after salvation, they ceased.]
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Colossians 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
The Church has a blessed hope, a blessed destiny that does not include the outpouring of God’s wrath. Instead, we are marked as part of Christ’s own body through the sealing of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of promise serves as the official “receipt” of our salvation, verifying that our inheritance is already secured in heaven. It is the ultimate wedding gift from the Saviour to His Bride, ensuring that we are preserved, protected, and prepared for an eternity in His presence.
Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. [That inheritance is given to us when the day of redemption arrives.]
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [When IS that day of redemption? Jesus encouraged His followers to be aware of the “end time signs”!
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Throughout the New Testament, the Church is depicted as the Bride of Christ, a people set apart and “espoused” to Him. This spiritual betrothal carries a magnificent promise: just as God raised the Lord Jesus, He will also raise the members of His Church to present them in His presence. This “presentation” is our great hope. Even now, the Spirit within us cries out alongside the Bride for the Bridegroom’s return. While the world faces the trials of the Tribulation, the Bride—marked and sealed—is shown in her heavenly glory as the Lamb’s wife.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [Paul tells us that the believers who died in his day would be raised up along with those alive to be presented.]
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. [The Bride is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Here we were both the Spirit and the bride speaking. The Bride is in Heaven during the Tribulation.]
Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
By looking at these passages, we can truly understand “who” the Rapture is for: it is the long-awaited meeting between
Jesus Christ, our heavenly Groom, and the Church, His redeemed Bride. This relationship defines our future, but Paul also gives us a title that defines our present. He describes us as ambassadors for Christ. Just as an ambassador is recalled to his home country before a conflict begins, the Church serves as God’s voice on earth today, knowing that our true citizenship is in heaven and our “recall” is drawing near.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Just as a nation sends an ambassador to represent its interests and communicate its leader’s vision to a foreign land, we serve as spiritual ambassadors for Christ. Our primary mission is to relay His heart for the world: a deep desire for all people to be reconciled to God, as we see in the famous promise of John 3:16. In the secular world, when a country is on the brink of war, one of the first things to happen is that the ambassador is called home for safety. Similarly, God will call His ambassadors—the Church—home to heaven before His righteous wrath is poured out upon the earth during the Tribulation.
The only way to be a part of the Bride of Christ is to be born again. It is salvation through Jesus Christ and Him alone. Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by Charles Spurgeon
“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” Charles Spurgeon
