Category: Any Day Now

Caught Up!

On By KateIn Any Day Now, Devotionals, Thoughts and MeditationsLeave a comment

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (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.

Christmas has passed and we have welcomed 2025. Could this be the year that the Rapture will occur? What does the Rapture represent to the born-again believer? It is a message of hope and excitement to all believers who are awaiting the Lord’s return in the clouds for His bride. Let’s cover what the word “rapture” means and where it is found in the Scriptures.

Although the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible, its concept does. It’s a term that describes the catching away of born-again believers from the earth. The term “caught up” in verse 17 is elsewhere translated “pluck” (John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.) We see another reference to it when Philip was snatched away after he witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch (Act 8:39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.) If you followed my series on the attitude of mankind during the end times, you saw that we are in a time where the antichrist will come into power. This is a time that no born-again believer experience. It is also a time that you do NOT want to experience if you are not born again. Prior to the revealing of the Antichrist, the Rapture will occur: it can happen at any moment. It is imminent and you do not want to be caught unaware.

Since the New Testament was written in Greek, let’s take a look at the word “rapture” in Strong’s Concordance:

G726
ἁρπάζω
harpazō
Total KJV Occurrences: 18
caught, 5: Act_8:39, 2Co_12:2, 2Co_12:4, 1Th_4:17, Rev_12:5
force, 3: Mat_11:12, Joh_6:15, Act_23:10
take, 3: Mat_11:12, Joh_6:15, Act_23:10
away, 2: Mat_13:19, Act_8:39
catcheth, 2: Mat_13:19, Joh_10:12
pluck, 2: Joh_10:28-29 (2)
pulling, 1: Jud_1:23

It will help you if you look up each of these verses in your Bible to see the different uses. The Rapture represents being caught up, taken by force, taken away, plucked, and pulled away. The word “rapture” itself isn’t found in the English Bible. But, friend, neither are the words “bible” or “Trinity” found in the Bible. 😁 The concept and description of the rapture IS found in the Bible and, therefore, it’s worthy of study, amen? The word itself is derived from the Latin word “rapturo” which IS found in the Latin translation of the Bible.

If you are a born-again Christian, you may have heard of the various beliefs of the timing of the Rapture. It’s very important for the Christian’s walk to understand why it matters. There are three popular schools of thought of when the Rapture will occur: the pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation. Pre-tribulation is defined as occurring before the tribulation. Mid-tribulation is defined as occurring in the middle of the tribulation. And finally, the post-tribulation is defined as occurring after the tribulation. The latter two beliefs claim that the pre-tribulation rapture was “invented” only recently. However, historical proof shows that this was the belief of the Christians as early as third century AD. One of the writings was by Pseudo-Ephraim on this very topic:

All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.

-Pseudo-Ephraem (c. 374-627)

We see that the pre-tribulation rapture was not invented in the past 150 years but in the third century! There was a very popular song published recently about the Tribulation period. The singer was interviewed by Tucker Carlson and this man believed that the pre-Tribulation Rapture theory was invented by John Nelson Darby. As we read in the quote above by Ephraem, we see that this is not true. The rekindled interest in the Rapture appeared in the 1800’s but it was most certainly not invented then. We will dig deeper and see that this was what was intended through the Scriptures!

The pre-Tribulation Rapture theory is the only one that gives hope and comfort to the believer! There is no comfort in knowing that the believer has to suffer the wrath of God.

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The wrath of God has always been to the unbelieving and disobedient people.

Eph 2:1-2  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (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:

Eph. 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.

Col. 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

If you are a born-again Christian and have never studied this out, I hope you are blessed by it and encouraged in your heart. If you are not born again, I urge you to settle the matter right now! Friend, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

The Wrath of God

On By KateIn Any Day Now, Devotionals, Thoughts and MeditationsLeave a comment

Revelation 6:16-17  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:  (17)  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Do the verses disturb you? If you’re born again, they should cause you to be praying for the salvation of your family, friends and those in your circle of acquaintances. If you’re not born again, I pray that you will be disturbed by what you read and that it stirs your heart to be saved.

So today’s verses talk about the wrath of the Lamb that is to come. What is this wrath? Who is going to suffer this wrath? The Lamb is Jesus Christ. This is one of the most used titles for Him. When His judgment upon this earth begins, there will be no turning back. Each judgment will be worse than the one before. The Rapture of the church will have already happened, and those who remain will be involved in a horrific time on this earth like no other: the seven-year Tribulation period. This is called the time of God’s wrath upon the earth. It has been prophesized from the Old Testament all the way through to the last book in the New Testament in the Book of Revelation.

You may be saying that there has always been persecution throughout the ages so this is nothing new. But these seven years will be a time where the people who get saved will be persecuted like no other age and it will occur all over the world, not just a specific location and not for a specific people. It will be for all people!

Revelation 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Mid-Tribulation and Post Tribulation believers say that Christians will go through half or all of the Tribulation. However, this doesn’t jive with the Scriptures because the saints of the Tribulation period won’t be delivered from the wrath but will be overcome by it. These saints are not called the church as they were in chapters 2 and 3.

Revelation 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 

We are told in the Scriptures that, just as in Noah’s day when God shut the door to the ark, that God will shut the door to Heaven after the Rapture and no one will be able to escape the Tribulation.

Revelation 3:8, 10  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.  (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.

Those who are alive at the time appointed by God to rapture His church, will be kept from the hour of temptation that will come upon the whole earth.

Luk 21:36  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.

All other times of persecution during history did not occur upon the whole earth, but just parts of it. The antichrist will be in power in order to cause havoc upon the entire earth. The church has been taken up in the Rapture. The words “church or churches” occurs 117 times in 115 verses in the King James Bible. It is found only 20 times in the Book of Revelation and only in chapters 2, 3 and once in chapter 22. Why would Christ, the Lamb, bring wrath upon His own bride (the church)? God’s wrath is saved for those who did not believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Do a simple search to the phrase “children of disobedience,” and you will see who the recipients of God’s wrath are. It appears three times in Ephesians 2:2, 5:6 and Colossians 3:6. God’s wrath is not for those who are blood bought by Jesus Christ!

The first three chapters of the Book of Revelation describe the churches of John’s day. They also represent the various ages of the Church age. However, we see in chapter 4, Jesus tells John that He will show him what is to happen from that point on:

Revelation 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

The Apostle John was given the opportunity to see and hear what would happen during the Tribulation. God called him up through an opened door. This is indicative of the Rapture of the church. Why? We see that the church is not even found once in Chapters 4-21. These chapters now refer to the Jews. The Jews rejected Christ at His first coming. Therefore, Gospel of Christ was entrusted to the Church until Christ came to Rapture the church. After this event, the Jews will come back into the picture and will see their Messiah is: Jesus Christ!

But for today, we can see that He has yet to be revealed or come into power. Christians will be kept from these seven years of Tribulation and they will be removed beforehand. Praise the Lord!! \o/ Are you ready, Christian?