Rapture Delayed

By Terry James
Prophecy Line

We have looked a number of times in this column at those who mock the end-times message and the Rapture in particular. Because those who scoff have been of the abrasive, unbelieving variety for the most part, there is a standard Bible verse reply I’ve usually employed in response.

The scriptural reply has most often been intended to let those mocking know that they are, in actuality, fulfilling Bible prophecy.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3-4)

As of late, however, such a reply doesn’t quite fit that which should compose an appropriate response. That is because the questions are coming weekly from genuine believers in the Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church. These Christians are worried–some very worried.

These look around them and on every side they see and feel the satanic pressures from this fallen sphere closing in. Issues and events –the very ambience in which they find their lives engulfed–generate thoughts that their circumstance is beginning to look much like the Bible’s description of the Tribulation itself.

To illustrate the growing angst, I’ve chosen the email of one such Christian brother who wrote this past week. His words pretty much get right to the point of the many other emails expressing like emotion. Here it is in its entirety:

"Why is the Lord delaying the rapture? It should have happened years ago. We would be in the millennium now enjoying true peace and prosperity without the suffering. I don’t get it. It’s God call of course but 58 million aborted babies in the US since 1973, Christians tortured and murdered worldwide, people who believe in Jesus longing for his return suffering immensely. I don’t get it where is our Lord and Savior?"

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Rapture Delayed

Author’s note: In preparing for speaking on the topic RAPTURE READY! at the Branson conference a couple of weeks ago, I looked through my files of articles I’ve written over the years. This one is …

terryjamesprophecyline.com

 

[Margery]

I LOVE this article! Terry is right on.

This bit speaks to me, it's the verses of comfort I look to when I ask HOW LONG LORD? HOW LONG?

"The Lord Jesus, Himself, in His ascended position, said the following to John the Revelator:


Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)


Jesus said it, and that means the Heavenly Father said it–promised it! Jesus said that He and the Father are One. They are inseparable–one and the same–the first and second Persons of the Godhead–the Trinity.


God cannot lie, the Scripture tells us. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God keeps His promises. So, this brother in Christ, like all the other believers who look to the “blessed hope” of Titus 2: 13, who are in fear and worry while watching this fallen world closing in, need an answer from the Word of God.


The Heavenly Father gave the answer to Peter to pass along to us, just a bit farther on in Scripture. The answer to why the Rapture hasn’t occurred as soon as almost all of us wish it would occur is, at least in part, wrapped up in the following:


The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)


The Tribulation that will follow this Age of Grace will be filled with horrors that even John, under divine inspiration, had trouble describing. The Lord wants to provide every moment possible during this present dispensation for those lost in their sin to come safely into the shelter who is His beloved Son Jesus Christ. God wants this for the lost, because, following the Rapture, making the decision to accept Christ for salvation will be more difficult by a multiple of factors. Facing beheading is but one of those factors!


That is the reason–or at least a primary reason–the Rapture hasn’t yet occurred in this generation, according to God’s Word."

I loved his emphasis after this bit, on how God is not delaying things, it's right on schedule, but it's God's merciful schedule.

 

[1LoverofGod]

I LOVE this article! Terry is right on.

This bit speaks to me, it's the verses of comfort I look to when I ask HOW LONG LORD? HOW LONG?

"The Lord Jesus, Himself, in His ascended position, said the following to John the Revelator:


Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)


Jesus said it, and that means the Heavenly Father said it–promised it! Jesus said that He and the Father are One. They are inseparable–one and the same–the first and second Persons of the Godhead–the Trinity.


God cannot lie, the Scripture tells us. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God keeps His promises. So, this brother in Christ, like all the other believers who look to the “blessed hope” of Titus 2: 13, who are in fear and worry while watching this fallen world closing in, need an answer from the Word of God.


The Heavenly Father gave the answer to Peter to pass along to us, just a bit farther on in Scripture. The answer to why the Rapture hasn’t occurred as soon as almost all of us wish it would occur is, at least in part, wrapped up in the following:


The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)


The Tribulation that will follow this Age of Grace will be filled with horrors that even John, under divine inspiration, had trouble describing. The Lord wants to provide every moment possible during this present dispensation for those lost in their sin to come safely into the shelter who is His beloved Son Jesus Christ. God wants this for the lost, because, following the Rapture, making the decision to accept Christ for salvation will be more difficult by a multiple of factors. Facing beheading is but one of those factors!


That is the reason–or at least a primary reason–the Rapture hasn’t yet occurred in this generation, according to God’s Word."

I loved his emphasis after this bit, on how God is not delaying things, it's right on schedule, but it's God's merciful schedule.

I think the weariness, and at times having concerning thoughts that we may experience about what's going on around us and trying to tie it to Prophecy is similar to the early church as described in Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians because they had worried that they were in the Tribulation at that time and Paul reminded them of what would have to happen first before the Tribulation would begin and referred back to his first letter to them regarding the Rapture and being gathered together to meet The Lord in the air.

1 "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,"
2 Thessalonians 2:1-8


15 "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Of course we are much closer to our blessed hope as we are eye witnesses of prophetic groundwork being set like the early church didn't see as converging signs have been increasing in frequency and intensity.
The imminency of Jesus appearing for His Bride keeps us in expectation and should keep us awake at all times.
But we all may go through periodic weariness and that's why Paul emphasized in verse 18 of 1 Thessalonians 4:

"Therefore comfort one another with these words."

The Church has a loving responsibility to edify one another and encourage one another because the days are wicked and it can get hard especially doing it alone, and is why the importance to practice Paul's admonition in Hebrews 10:24-25

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Some translations use the word. "encouraging", rather than exhorting.

We need one another because as that Day gets nearer the world will grow much darker and the devil seeks to Kill Steal and Destroy, but Jesus has given us eternal life and Nothing can separate us from The Love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Hallelujah!

So, we Watch, Wait, and when we receive our glory, the wait will be worth it

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

Sage advice Margery and Rose, especially for us "Are we there yet ?" crowd LOL

 

[mattfivefour]

I LOVE this article!

Me, too.

 

[Goodboy]

We no longer have long to wait. Everything is lining up just as prophesied!

 

[Andy C]

Today would be great!

 

[KMendel]

From your mouth to God's ear, Andy...........

 

[Cheeky200386]

I would love for it to be today. I was just thinking about this today. I'm getting so excited at the possiblity of being raptured by 2026 but I was telling myself that I will continue to live my life for God as best as possible if that doesn't happen. I know that I'll eventually go to be with him.

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

I'm going insane in the membrane today, litwrally these long blowing horns have been sounding all day.

My nerves and adrenaline are off the charts

 

[Eric Nicholas]

I'm going insane in the membrane today, litwrally these long blowing horns have been sounding all day.

My nerves and adrenaline are off the charts

Bro, my family did me dirty one day. They left scattered clothes all over the house while I was in the shower. I came out and noticed none of them were there or speaking and found their clothes at different parts of the house. My heart was in my ears. I bet my blood pressure was at stroke levels. Not cool. We are a house of trolls.

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

Bro, my family did me dirty one day. They left scattered clothes all over the house while I was in the shower. I came out and noticed none of them were there or speaking and found their clothes at different parts of the house. My heart was in my ears. I bet my blood pressure was at stroke levels. Not cool. We are a house of trolls.

Yeah that's nek level trolling cuz, i woulda said dinner's off for that stunt

 

[Andy C]

I would love for it to be today. I was just thinking about this today. I'm getting so excited at the possiblity of being raptured by 2026 but I was telling myself that I will continue to live my life for God as best as possible if that doesn't happen. I know that I'll eventually go to be with him.

Yes, when it happens, it happens, all on His timing. Rapture or natural death, all Christians will end up at the same place for eternity.

I will never understand date setters. Unless they have a different type of “bible”, the one I have does not provide information on setting a date.

 

[Cheeky200386]

Bro, my family did me dirty one day. They left scattered clothes all over the house while I was in the shower. I came out and noticed none of them were there or speaking and found their clothes at different parts of the house. My heart was in my ears. I bet my blood pressure was at stroke levels. Not cool. We are a house of trolls.

That is hilarious! I might have to pull that one on Mike.

 

[Eric Nicholas]

That is hilarious! I might have to pull that one on Mike.

You really should.

 

[Cheeky200386]

You really should.

I'll wait until the kids are old enough to know we need to stay quiet and hide.

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

I'll wait until the kids are old enough to know we need to stay quiet and hide.

At least you're being truthful to your forum nickname