The watcher community is lit up right now as some of our more popular watchers are posting vlogs on YouTube and other platforms proclaiming the soon return of Jesus in the Rapture of His Church. These are exciting times we are living in, times of fear, and hope; of uncertainty and of a focused resolve. We are at the last moments of the Church Age and will soon be transitioning into the Millennial Era. However, first we must have a seven-year tribulation, and before that, a Rapture. With all that is happening right now in the world, between the wars and rumors of wars, the economic uncertainty, the political jockeying, the troop movements and saber rattling, it’s a wonder we are still here; but alas, we are, for a few more days. Watchman are reporting on all kinds of relevant events that are occurring congruently around the earth and many in the body of Christ are becoming more aware of the nearness of the Lord’s return.
Jesus did tell us that, “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it (or He) is near—at the doors!” – Matthew 24:33
The prophet Micah also foretold these days and those that will soon befall this world.
‘Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, like those who glean vintage grapes; there is no cluster to eat
of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. 2 The faithful (loyal) man has perished (been taken) from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net. 3 That they may successfully do evil with both hands—the prince asks for gifts, the judge seeks a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire; so they scheme together. 4 The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity.” – Micah 7:1-4
- This is a brief picture of what the world will look like after the Rapture, when the faithful or loyal men, meaning the Church, has been taken from the earth. He speaks of a lack of crops, great hunger, and deceitful people who are as corrupt as they are murderous. Then he says, ‘the day of your watchman has come.’ The ‘day of your watchman’ is a reference to the quickly approaching seven-year tribulation. The only way to prepare for it is to get saved by repenting of your sin and receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
While we are longing for the Rapture, we understand that there are still a few more souls that need to be saved on this side of it. I believe that the Rapture will be the trigger that sets the whole world off. One moment we will be eating, drinking, building, planning, and working; and then bam! The Rapture occurs and millions of believers, including children, toddlers, infants, and even the unborn will vanish instantly. This is what many watchman have been proclaiming for so long. While we may not know the exact day or hour of the Lord’s return, we do know that we are in the season of it. If Jesus is ‘at the very doors’ right now, then His hand is on the door knob. We are that close.
I believe that when the Rapture occurs, all of the rest of the cards that are currently set up are going to collapse like, well, a house of cards. Their will probably be millions of lights that suddenly appear in the skies all around the world which will better support the lie that aliens took the people and children. There may be a nuclear event occur simultaneously to the Rapture to help mask the disappearances. Their may even be other related weather events that occur, seismic or volcanic, or both. In any case, it will be a slight of hand scenario. The Church will not experience any of this as we will be in heaven with Jesus, and all of those who have loved His appearing, including the resurrected NT Saints.
As I watch the various YouTube eschatologists proclaim their positions on the timing of the Rapture as it relates to the seven-year tribulation, my spirit is grieved when I hear something that is NOT consistent with scripture or when a watcher makes a viewer feel ignorant because of their view; even when it’s a correct biblical view. Some of our more novice believers may be thrown or confused by these teachings, which I believe is what the enemy intends to do, throw them. If I can encourage you to you hold fast to what you know to be true in your heart, your confidence, and keep your faith and trust in the Lord.
Some people out there feel that it’s their God-given calling to confuse the body, criticize other watchers, and proclaim their version of the truth, even when it conflicts with solid biblical theology and doctrine. The Holy Spirit within you will bear witness with your spirit if what they are saying is truth or not. Always go with the Spirit, He will always lead you into biblical truth. Part of the set up of the Rapture being the trigger is how the enemy will attempt to throw some believers by using certain vloggers with just enough of biblical knowledge to taint the excitement and joy that comes from watching, working, and waiting for the Lord’s soon return in a pre-tribulation Rapture. Just be mindful of their antics and avoid them. Keep your focus on Jesus, His Word, and what He has called you to do in these last of the last moments.
I have found myself in sort of a sprint in this spiritual race we are all running right now because I know that we are close to the Lord’s catching away of His Church. When I was younger I used to run in 5 and 10K races. I had a collection of number bibs and t-shirts from all those races. When I neared the finish line, I would always run faster to improve my time. This is a trend that many runners do so I had to be careful because this is also when runners bump into each other in their fatigue and the funneling of the race lane. That was a few years and a few pounds ago, now I ride an Elliptigo to support my carb habits.
Debi and I have been here in northwest Missouri for 20 months now. In that time we have purchased a beautiful home, relocated our investment properties, found a great church to support and participate in, and we have embraced our community by working at and supporting a local Christian school. Our lives have changed for the better as we are living close to our three adult children and their families. Family get-togethers are easier and more convenient because of our locality. All of this, I believe, is consistent with God’s promise to us on this side of the veil. David said it this way,
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” – Psalm 27:13
It’s hard to believe that even in the perilous times that we re living in, God is still blessing His people and others are blessed as a result; that is until we’re gone. I look around at all that God has done for us and other believers and I see it as a set up to the Rapture trigger. I currently have five different jobs that I do and while I am quite busy occupying in these last moments, I represent the Lord in everything. My latest adventure is driving a school bus for our local school district. That’s a rush and quite a mission field, both on the bus and in the garage. We need to seed as many people as possible with the gospel because the folks who are not saved right now know something is up, they just can’t quite finger it; but they know, which makes them white unto harvest.
This coming week is another mega-high watch for the Lord’s return and why many people may criticize you for saying so and watching accordingly. My advice for you is to just keep your life planning schedule set to forward. I want to remind you of the very words of Jesus,
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” – Luke 17:26-29
Life will be going as ‘business as usual’ as it can in a pre-tribulation Rapture context and then whoosh, the Church will be suddenly taken up, immediately changing the world’s scenario and collapsing societies and social sub-structures. One moment a person is in line at a McDonald’s waiting to order food and the next moment they will suddenly discover that they’re not going to order anything. The first place folks will go is to the groceries stores to load up on food and other supplies. They won’t be paying for anything as it will be a free for all. The police will not be able to control this post-rapture scenario as it will be an instant change from bad, to extremely worse. Parents, especially young mothers, will be frantically searching for their missing children, infants, and babies. The moment before folks were purchasing furniture, clothes, and other non-essentials; and the next moment they are in a frantic. Some guy will be working on a construction project and look around at all of the pandemonium and wonder where his ‘religious’ co-worker went in such a hurry as to leave all of his clothes and tool belt on the ground just 5 feet from him. This IS going to happen, and quite possibly very soon. While the tag line here is usually ‘are you ready, or get ready,’ my charge has more to do with staying ready and being the guy who leaves their BVD’s behind.
While there is so much more I can say about this topic of the Rapture being the trigger that sets off this powder keg scenario we are seeing develop all around us, I will say that until that moment, I am in a sprint. Today I will watch my grandson play football, I will go to the park with my grandkids and take them out for ice cream just before I return them to their parents (oh yeah, this is happening). I will do some work on a construction project and finish some touch ups on a sermon I will be preaching tomorrow on the Feast of Trumpets. Next week I will pick up a bunch of students and safely drive them to their schools and I will continue to work and witness to as many people as I can, because this is our charge from the Lord; ‘occupy until I return!’ This is my sprint just before the Rapture trigger is pulled. I want to challenge you to live a life of focused purpose with just a touch of relevance as to the times and seasons that we are living in. Make every moment of your life count for the Lord and win, win, win, as many to Christ as you can; or at least plant as much seeds as you can. Beware of the trickery of the enemy who would want to throw your off course. This race has only one direction, run it well. The trigger is about to be pulled.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northern Missouri. He lives with his wife of 33-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 