| Capt. Ben Marler Jr.
This message will explain what the rapture means and how you can be positive
you will be taken. The word isn’t in the Holy Scriptures. It means to be
snatched away. We find the concept in St. Paul’s letter to the
Thessalonians. Please read it carefully.
“Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who
fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do
who have no hope [beyond the grave]. For since we believe that Jesus died
and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those
who have fallen asleep [in death]. For this we declare to you by the
Lord’s [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of
the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage
at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death]. For
the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with
the shout of the archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And
those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the
living ones who remain [on the Earth] shall simultaneously be caught up
along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be
with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these
words." 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Amplified Bible
My purpose here is to help you be sure you are one of those that leave and
not left here to endure the seven-year tribulation that follows. This time
of intense trouble upon the Earth is going to be so bad that Jesus said,
“If my Father did not shorten the days not even the elect [the Jews] would
survive. I don’t know about you, but this statement captures all of my
attention.
What is the rapture? Your ideas about may differ from mine, however, my purpose as an evangelist is to help the church prepare for ministry and
reach the lost. Unless we, who call ourselves Christians understand this
fully we will continue to be negligent in taking the Gospel message to the
lost. How can we tell someone we love him or her and not do all in our
power to bring them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel: God loves everybody. His purpose has always been to have a
family. But we should understand He has high standards for his family. He
requires them to be PERFECT! Our sins, any of them separate us from Him
because of His holiness. It must be clearly understood that it is
impossible for anyone to reach perfection on our own. It can only occur
when the story of the cross is preached and it renders our heart. At this
time God allows us to identify with the horrible suffering of Jesus as He
shed His blood for us. Then, and only then can we be brought to repentance
for our sins and ask for forgiveness. The moment we ask, He graciously
forgives us.
The song Amazing Grace will always be one of my favorites as it speaks of
a “wretch like me” being redeemed by God. I know how bad I was and even
now, some 31 years later, I continue to tell God constantly how grateful I
am. I am blessed that Jesus lives in my heart in His Perfection. When God
the Father looks at me He sees Jesus, praise His Holy Name. If you are
born-again you are equally blessed.
John 1:12 clearly says we must “receive” Jesus to have Him. The devil and
many of those who claim to be Christians believe in Jesus, but not upon
His sacrificial death upon the cross for them. How do we know? They do not
have the fruit of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:19-21
(instead) Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious):
they
are immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,
jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party
spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), envy,
drunkenness, carousing and the like. I WARN YOU BEFOREHAND, JUST AS I DID
PREVIOUSLY, THAT THOSE WHO DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF
GOD.
We who are His, will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit. They are love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, long suffering, temperance and
faithfulness. Does this sound like you? It should if you are born-again of
the Holy Spirit. We who are born-again must allow this delicious fruit to
develop within us for the delight of those who will receive it.
As His fruit develops I believe we will become a doer of the Word and not
a hearer only. But shouldn’t you make a daily commitment? God has told us
plainly, He has each of our days planned in my favorite verse, Ephesians
2:10. I just change it to I am your workmanship etc. then I add therefore,
I commit my life to you today according to Ephesians 2:10. I am amazed at
the number of opportunities He has for me each day. Just today, I held the
hands of a car dealer and his wife while offering them to Jesus. They were
so open to the Gospel. We must work while there is still time, right?
We have the unique privilege to tell others what Jesus did for us on the
day He saved us. If you will take a few minutes to put it in print you
will
find you can give it away all day long. Remember, Jesus said, “he who
fails to acknowledge Me in this sinful and adulterous generation I will in
no way acknowledge them before my Heavenly Father which is in Heaven.”
This is not an option but a command. I love to tell others what He did for
me.
Today you can choose will you stay here and suffer or go with the Holy
Spirit. I pray you will decide to live for Jesus now and through eternity.
If
you desire to know more about this Jesus Christ who loves you, and you
want to ask Him into your heart, receiving His Saving Grace please
click on this
Salvation
Prayer |
