But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. [Matthew 24:36-41]
This “coming of the Son of Man” is also known as the “rapture.” It is the moment in time when all true believers will be taken up to Heaven. There is ample evidence in the Bible that the rapture will occur before the seven year tribulation. It is not my purpose to prove that in this article because the proof requires a deep theological analysis, but it is extremely important you get this right or you will not be preparing for the rapture as God tells you to. I recommend this video, which will establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the rapture will happen prior to the tribulation: The Pre-Trib Rapture.
Is it important to God that you be preparing for and expecting the rapture? Absolutely! How do I know that. Of the five crowns that the Bible says will be awarded to the faithful, one of those five is the Rapture Crown, also known as the Crown of Righteousness. The crown will be awarded to those who long for Jesus’ return. [See 2 Timothy 4:8]
The parable of the 10 virgins who were waiting for a wedding banquet is about preparing for the Lord’s return at the rapture. Five had their lamps full of oil, and they represent the believers who are ready and eagerly waiting for the Lord’s return. The other five were not ready, and not allowed into the wedding banquet. Here it is:
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. [Matthew 25:10-13]
The first important point is that there will be many who think they are deserving of Heaven, but they are not. When the groom said, “I don’t know you,” the message is clear. These five never knew Jesus, meaning they were not saved and will not go in the rapture to Heaven.
I think we would all agree that the subject of death is one of the most serious subjects we could ever discuss, but there is a more serious subject, and that is your eternal destiny. The death of your physical body is a one time event and your body will rot in the earth or your ashes will return to the earth, but the eternal destiny of your soul will be determined by the choices you make now. Your life is defined by your destiny: either eternal condemnation and suffering forever, or by eternal salvation and a place in Heaven.
So you must be absolutely certain about your salvation. Do not play games with God, and do not gamble with your eternal destiny. You are saved by the blood of the lamb, or you are not. Do not place your eternal destiny in the hands of false teachers and preachers who would drag your soul into hell with them.
And do not assume that only the worst of the heretics are the culprits. Some of the big names in religion have denied the inerrancy of God’s Word, have denied that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, and have denied foundational Biblical doctrine.
I exposed the prosperity doctrine and it’s chief heretics in a chapter entitled What Does God Think About Prosperity in my book Living For God: Pursuing Christ With Passion.
Preparing for the rapture means you first make absolutely certain you have believed in the true savior, Jesus Christ, and in the doctrine and truths in the Word of God, not in the heresies taught by many today. Do not let some charismatic person drag your soul into hell and the Lake of Fire forever. This is your soul and your destiny. You alone bear responsibility for your decision. Blaming someone who misled you will not be a valid defense on the day of judgment.
Second, preparing for the rapture once you know you are saved means you must prepare your heart for the coming of the Lord.
Like the five virgins who filled their lamps with oil so they would be ready for the groom’s arrival, you and I must be ready for the Lord’s return. This means we are to do what the Bible tells us to do. We are to be sober, vigilant, faithful, obedient, prayerful, ready to give a defense for our faith, doers of the Word, light in the world, and we are to put on the whole armor of God. We are to continue our preparation for the rapture by rejoicing always, being thankful no matter what our circumstances, and to think on those things that are excellent and praiseworthy.
Does this mean we have to be perfect Christians? Absolutely not. There is no such thing as a perfect Christian, other than the one Savior Jesus Christ, who was the perfect unblemished lamb who sacrificed his life for you and me on the cross. But it does mean we are to diligently do all these things, and we do them not out of a “good works” mentality, but by faith and obedience and because it is our reasonable service to our Savior and our King.
This is what it means to prepare for the rapture. Are you preparing today? Are you looking down the road, eagerly anticipating your Lord’s return? Are you excited about seeing him and being united with him? Does he mean more to you than all the world? The rapture will come at a time that surprises nearly everyone. Based on what has already been the fulfillment of all of the Biblical prophecies to occur before the tribulation, we are there in the end of days now, which means the rapture is very near my friend. Are you ready?
This is taken from The End of All Things is At Hand by Chuck Marunde, J.D.