My sweet wife is always finding new and creative ways to remain positive and moving forward. One of the things I admire most about her is that she seldom resorts to negative whining. She took her personal mission statement from her favorite movie, "Apollo 13". In the movie, Apollo 13 was in danger of becoming the greatest disaster in space travel history. The mission control commander stood up and announced, "Lets work the problem people". When my wife is faced with overwhelming obstacles, I can count on her thinking, "Lets work the problem". This motto has served her well for many years.
I tell you this because on a daily basis, someone asks me about the direction our nation is heading and what can be done about it.
I decided to ask my spouse what her accountant perspective is on our nations economy and debt crisis. As usual, she caught me off guard and in a very matter of fact voice responded, "I am rooting for the rapture".
My friends, you know that your stock in the Titanic is in trouble when be best of the best minds have taken a default position of "Our best chance is to have God snatch us out of here before the bell rings".
That is a good thing and a.... not so good thing.
The good thing is, God loves us and is going to protect His children.
The not so good thing is, this old world lacks hope, peace, and the belief that our politicians are going to do what is in the best interest of the nation. (FYI, I am throwing rocks equally in both directions with that statement)
So what is your attitude toward the Rapture supposed to be?
I suppose the place to start this discussion is, "What is the Rapture?"
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Although the term "rapture" is not found in the Bible, the teaching is firmly based on 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. The English word "rapture" is derived from the Latin word, "rapere" which means "to carry off" or "to catch up". The negative side of the rapture is that all non-believers left behind on earth will remain earth bound for a 7 year time of God's wrath. Most Bible scholars agree the 7 years will end with Jesus Christ's return and His reigning on earth for 1000 years.
My point of taking a walk on the wild side here is to lead you up to God's perspective on the rapture.
"Comfort one another with these words" 1 Thessalonians 4:18
What words? The Bible verses (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) hold great promise and hope for believers of Jesus Christ.
"All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16
I know I am including a lot of Bible verses in today's blog because it is vital that you make up your mind on these issues based on God's eternal word and not on my witty banter.
In the Greek, when you repeat a phrase in writing, it has the same effect as putting punctuation points for emphasis. So, I am going to close this blog with a repeat of 1 Thessalonians 4:18:
"Comfort one another with these words"
