Evidence abounds not only in print, audio, and visual media, but also from the events of everyday life, that the Rapture, which will herald the coming of the kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth, is quite at hand. The strivings among the nations, one against the other, and the degradation of nature, are some of the obvious signs which Jesus Christ had earlier warned His disciples to look out for in judging the imminence of the Rapture and His eventual second coming to rule over the earth.
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places…” Matthew 24:7.
Jesus had not only given us the signs to look out for, but also what preparations to make against the yet unknown day of the Rapture. He said to His disciples:
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28.
Below are some of the areas that the children of God should make adequate preparations as they await the events of the rapture:
1. Have a Modest Plan for Your Life. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12; 1 Timothy 2:1-3
“…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:2b; Luke 21:35.
Keep it simple. Do not get yourself entangled with the things of this life so much that they will demand too much of your attention and time to manage. Remember, you have your soul’s eternal destiny to worry about and your future with Jesus Christ in heaven to prepare for. So do not allow the temporal things of this world to spoil your chances of gaining the eternal ones of heaven.
Luke 21:34 “But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose.” AMP[lest]
2. Be Earnest in Prayer. Psalm 55:16, 17; 5:7; 28:1, 2; Hebrews 5:7-10; Luke 22:39-44; Jeremiah 29:13
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared…” Hebrews 5:7.
Keep praying, not only when you need something from God, but mostly because you want to have and maintain fellowship with Him. You might just be having one of those intimate prayer fellowships with Him one day when the celestial trumpeters will give that distinct blast that will herald the Rapture of God’s saints — and you inclusive — to heaven.
Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Mark 13:33 “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” NKJV
3. Constantly Study the Bible. Acts 17:10, 11; 2 Timothy 2:15; John 5:39
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39.
Read the Holy Bible as if your entire life and hope of heaven depend on it, because it actually does. Let the Word of God guide your steps in the dangerous terrain of this treacherous world because you cannot be too sure what is right to do unless your knowledge of God’s Word comes in handy. Those who presume to navigate life’s complex roads purely on their own initiative, without the light of God’s Word, are bound to fail!
Psalm 119:9 “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.”
Psalm 119:10 “I have tried my best to find you — don’t let me wander from your commands.”
Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” NLT
4. Be Always Spirit-Filled and Spiritually Conscious. Galatians 5:16, 22-25; Romans 8:1-2, 9-17; Ephesians 4:30
“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
If you want to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, then you have to be on good terms with the Holy Spirit; your life must be conducive for Him to live in. As He is holy, He must, therefore, find your life holy to dwell in also.
One identifying mark of those who are on course to heaven is that they carry the presence of the Holy Spirit, not only in the over-hyped tongue speaking, but in the mostly unsung holy character, which cannot be mistaken for anything else but that it is the very life of God in them!
Galatians 5:22 “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
Galatians 5:23 “gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.”
Galatians 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
Galatians 5:25 “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” NLT
5. Be Ardent in Evangelism. Mark 6:7-13; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; John 4:23-24; Romans 10:14-16
“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” Mark 6:12.
Witnessing to people about the redemption story: how God loved us and sent His Son Jesus Christ to make atonement for our sins, which had hitherto separated us from Him (Isaiah 59:2, John 3:16); how He is transforming sinners into saints as they believe and accept His Son Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of their life (2 Corinthians 5:17); how He is preparing a place for them in heaven, with the promise to return to earth to take them to be with Him in heaven forever (John 14:1-3); that is the primary assignment which Jesus Christ has given to everyone who believes in Him.
Matthew 28:18 “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.’”
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NLT
6. Be in Constant Fellowship with Other Believers. Malachi 3:16, 17; Hebrews 10:23-25
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.
Keeping in touch with those who practice the Christian faith in truth and sincerity, through church meetings and scheduled visitations, is one sure way to keep yourself spiritually connected, edified, and positively occupied with the things of God while waiting for the Rapture to take place.
Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.”
Malachi 3:17 “‘They will be my people,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.’” NLT
7. Have Occasional Personal Retreats. Mark 6:30-32; Luke 4:42
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35.
Withdrawing yourself, once in a while, from the hustle and bustle of your daily activities, in order to wait on God for personal renewal and spiritual refreshment, is a must for every heaven-conscious child of God. This is important because it is often so easy to get too occupied — even with spiritual activities — to notice that we are missing out on some intimate moments with God, like waiting to receive direction for tomorrow from Him, or just wanting to know the next task He has for us to do for Him.
God wants to spend time with us in order to prepare us for the Rapture, but unless we create that time for Him, it will not be possible for Him to easily fulfill that desire.
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” MSG
8. Subject Every Doctrine to Rigorous Biblical Scrutiny. 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Ephesians 4:14, 15; Isaiah 8:20; Mark 7:6-13; 1 Timothy 4:1-2
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.
What you hear and believe becomes what you practice. What you practice becomes your spiritual identity before God and mankind. Your spiritual identity determines your eternal destiny. So, be careful where you attend fellowship and who ministers to you. This is about your eternal destiny. As you would not consciously allow a quack doctor to attend to your health issues, so you should not allow just anyone to guide your spiritual destiny unless you have proven confidence that what they believe, preach, and practice is totally in line with God’s Holy Word.
Luke 8:18 “So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.” NLT
9. Be Careful Who You Partner With In Life Or Ministry. 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Acts 20:28-30; 1 Peter 5:1-3; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 18-21; 2 Timothy 2:22
“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22.
You are as good — or otherwise — as the company you keep. Keeping the right friends or having the right partner can add a boost to your hope of heavenly candidacy for the Rapture of the saints.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.” AMP
10. Render a Good Account of Yourself to All Men. Acts 20:17-38; 1 Timothy 4:12; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Peter 2:11, 12; Matthew 5:13-16
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12.
What people see and comment about your life might just be a true reflection of how you stand before Almighty God also. So, try and give a good account of yourself wherever you are.
Acts 24:16 “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” NIV
We may not really know the day and time of the rapture of the saints, but knowing that we are daily preparing ourselves for this event can be very comforting to us and inspiring to those who look up to us for hope in a dying and soon-ending world.
“And every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3.