As we near another Rosh Hashanah, the watcher community has become very aware of the possibility of the Lord’s return in this season. As always, if you adhere to the Rosh Hashanah Rapture theory (RHRT), than this is your season. Some watchers maintain that 2026 is a Jubilee year, therefore, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are rolled into one festival. We will see. What I am most concerned about as we near 9/11,12/2026 is the potential for a significant event to occur that will set the end time venue into motion; like it’s not already steam-rolling ahead right now. I have never seen it like this in all my days of watching, waiting, and working for the Lord. In case you’re new to my blogs, I am a 62-year-old pastor who loves Jesus and wants everyone saved.
I have noticed a tactic from the enemy, he will use certain vloggers to sow a word of uncertainty regarding the condition of a person’s faith as it relates to their salvation. We all need to keep a regular watch on our actions, choices, behavior trends, attitudes, and responses to people and circumstances. We all need to keep them in line with the Word of God and adjust when the Holy Spirit convicts us of falling short at times; all of us. What I am seeing are believers who are questioning the faith of others based on their works. I should like to remind all of us that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross for our sin. We are not saved by our works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Our works and obedience are an expression of our love for the Lord, but to purport that a true believer in Jesus might miss the Rapture based on a mistake they made, a doctrine that they haven’t fully understood, or an act they have yet to complete for the Lord is not only preposterous, but it can be a tool of the enemy to spawn doubt their heart. If a person who is genuinely in love with Jesus and who is longing for His soon return for them is thrown off course by a faulty teaching or bad theo, it could hurt them. This is a dirty trick of the enemy.
As a pastor, I see a lot of well-meaning believers who want to share things with their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, but sometimes it’s to their hurt because they speak it out of immaturity or misunderstanding. They may not even intend to hurt them, but they do when opinions and views regarding a certain doctrine or so-called requirement for salvation is expressed. Sometimes they may even put a pharisaical condition on a believer ‘making’ the Rapture. I should like to shed a bit of light on this.
When a person says things like, ‘the Rapture of the Church is not a right, it’s a privilege.’ Or, ‘if you’re not looking for Jesus’ return, He’s not coming for you!’ Or, ‘if you don’t believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture, you’re not going in it.’ These are hard statements that define what a person believes, or doesn’t believe, about Jesus. One well-meaning brother said that all children of non-believers are not going in the Rapture. His argument was that in the OT, God judged the children of the non-believers, so He will do the same to the kids in the NT. It’s these kinds of statements that break my heart because even well studied individuals make such foolish remarks that only hurt others instead of encouraging them. They speak what they believe to be true, but it only hurts.
The grandmother who prays for her unsaved adult offspring and their kids, her grandkids; if she hears something like that, it will break her heart and confuse her intention and hope. The person who adheres to this ‘children of the unsaved miss the Rapture’ theory believes that the decision of a parent not to believe will restrict their children’s access to heaven. Last I checked, all souls belong to the Lord. (Ezekiel 18:4) Children have a special place in the heart of the Father, and this fatherly consideration for young children is what is extended to them in the NT by His grace. As children age, so does their accountability, but the little duffers, toddlers, infants, and even the unborn, are saved by His grace baby! Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Jesus said it this way regarding children, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 19:14
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” – Mark 10:14b; Luke 18:16b
As far as not believing in the Rapture, whenever it happens, I should like to encourage you with this word; if you genuinely love Jesus and walk in His ways, He is coming for you. We all struggle at times, but our love for the Lord and His heart for us is an unbreakable bond. As we continue with Him in a right relationship, so He will draw us even closer to Himself, reminding us of His love for us and His plan for our life. As we ask in prayer and believe by faith, so He will honor our words and steps. As a matter of fact, He orders where we walk if we are walking in Him and with Him. Talk about getting your steps in. Everyday God gives us is another day to be a good witness for Him to anyone who would listen and believe. Remember this when you wake each morning and wonder why we’re still here.
As far as the Rapture being ‘a right, not a privilege,’ I can only say that our salvation is a gift that yields our right to be called children of God. (John 1:12) The Rapture is our ride into heaven when the Lord returns for His Church, living and dead. The decision of who is going or not going has already been made when we chose to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I say that it’s our right to access the Father through Christ (John 14:6) and His privilege to give us this gift of salvation through our faith in Jesus. In essence, the Rapture is both a right and a privilege. I don’t deserve anything, beginning with my salvation. I certainly don’t deserve any rewards at the Bema Seat, and I definitely don’t deserve to even be considered to be part of God’s wonderful family; yet here I am, experiencing all three, and it’s only by His grace. The Rapture is a privilege, and a right, based on what Jesus did for me.
People who are weak or misled in their faith need to stop sowing doubt into the hearts of fellow believers when it comes to their salvation. They need to understand, like the rest of us, that what we do for Jesus and who we are in Jesus are two different things. My place before the Father is positional, it’s only by His grace. What I do for the Lord to express my love for Him has nothing to do with my salvation; but everything to do with my obedience to Him. I love Him because He first loved me. I obey Him because He has asked me to. I long for Him because it’s who I am created to be; in His presence. I hope for Him because this world is a dumpster fire. I share my faith with all who will believe, beginning with those of the household of faith, and extending this message of hope outward toward any who would come to faith in Jesus by my words and prayers.
As we near this season, may we be as diligent to obey the Lord and His will for our life. May we be desirous to spend quality time in His word, in fellowship with other believers, and being a good witness for the Lord.
Get ready, Jesus is coming for us.
Maranatha!
Encourage Men 