Why I’m NOT Looking for the Rapture

Since the beginning of time humans have speculated about the end of time. I won’t be debating whether or not the rapture will take place or when it might happen or what the Tribulation might entail. What I’m about to describe is why I’m not really looking for it while so many others are screaming from the top of their lungs that such an occurrence is undoubtedly at hand.

rapture-ready

The Rapture is an interesting idea for which many theories exist. It’s the idea that there will be a sort of “catching up” of Christians around the time of Christ’s second coming. Some think it will be before what’s known as the Tribulation period, some believe it will be during that period, and others believe it will be afterward. Of course, the Left Behind book series rivetingly illustrated the idea of a pre-Tribulation rapture.

And there are several more theories on the end-time events as described in the Bible. The Apocalyptic literature in the Bible is very enigmatic. It’s open for interpretation. The Book of Revelation is filled with grand images of dragons and beasts and horses. Turn on TBN for about 5 minutes and you’ll hear multiple interpretations of these images. And very few can be proven false because they are so open to interpretation. This is the nature of Apocalyptic Literature.

But at the same time, Jesus undoubtedly gave us some pretty clear signs to look for. And I certainly see such signs occurring with ever-increasing frequency. But, what scares me as I hear so many trying to nail down the manner in which Jesus might return is this: The Jews did the same thing in Jesus’ day.

The Old Testament portrays two contrasting Messiahs. One is a great conqueror. He comes to claim victory over evil and to overthrow all those opposed to His people. He is a King who rules as a King. But there is a second Messiah portrayed in the Old Testament who was to come not as a King, but as a servant. He was lowly, meek, and mild. He was not a lion, but a lamb who would be led to the slaughter. The Jews looked at these prophecies and many of them saw only the Coming King. So when Jesus showed up as the lowly Lamb, they missed Him. They were so sure of what was to come that they missed the very Messiah they were looking for.

Two Messiahs

Two Messiahs

This is what scares me about those who are convinced they know with such certainty how Jesus will return again. I don’t want to be so convinced He’ll come one way that I miss Him if He comes another way.

Will it all play out the way LaHaye and Jenkins portrayed in Left Behind? Maybe. Could it play out totally differently than that? Absolutely. I simply don’t know. And no matter what these apocalyptic TBN preachers claim, they don’t know either. No man knows. We see the signs. We lift up our heads. We believe our redemption is drawing near. But all I can truly do is look to my Savior, my King, my Shepherd, my Jesus. I’ll live as if the end is at hand because that’s what Christians have been doing since the time of the Apostles. The point is—one day He’ll rule and reign again, it might be tomorrow or it might be off in the distant future.

I don’t know exactly how everything will play out, but this one thing I do know: we’re closer now than we’ve ever been.

What happens next is anybody’s guess.

KEEP READING!
When God Is Silent
What Makes God Laugh?
I Don’t Trust You (and my unspoken prayer request proves it)

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