This is the first in a series of possible, fictional scenarios of what it would be like after the Rapture of the born-again Christians. What will happen in the Rapture is all the true, saved, Christian believers will disappear as Jesus calls them up to heaven. I’m going to show what MAY happen to several groups of people: Progressives, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, as well as certain people whom I assume are not believers.
We don’t know when the Rapture will happen. When it does, it will happen at the same moment everywhere around the world. So, if it’s morning in Phoenix, AZ, it will be night in Australia. Each of these stories will take place at different days and times. The idea behind this, is to get you to understand that you have to be ready. It could happen at any moment and you really don’t want to be left behind.
Again, this is FICTION. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is pure coincidence. Today, we’re starting with the Progressives. Specifically, the United Church of Christ (UCC). There’s one a half a block from my church. I was a member of the UCC for years until God showed me the truth and what I was missing — salvation. So, this is how the folks at the Beatitudes Church may react when they are left behind…
Left Behind at the Rapture: The Progressives
Phoenix, AZ, a Sunday Morning, 10 am — sometime in the near future — post COVID – things are back to normal.
Pastor Wayne, of the Beatitudes Church, looked forward to the start of service as the band played a popular contemporary worship song. He watched the worship leader from the side and he was getting into the beat of the music.
The noise of the crash outside of their church startled everyone. The music stopped and people ran outside. A car, eastbound on Glendale Ave. turning south on 7th Ave crashed into the church’s sign.
The first person to the car was John, one of the ushers who was closest to the door. He looked in, then he stepped back in shock. Pastor Wayne ran up beside him.
“What happened? Did they have a heart attack?” Pastor Wayne asked.
“There’s no one driving!” John replied.
“What?!” Pastor Wayne looked in the car. There was a blouse, pants, jewelry — a cross necklace, sunglasses, and a purse on the passenger seat. In the back seat there looked like there were 2 kids. The only thing left were their clothing. The seat belts were still attached. The doors to the car, locked.
Then everyone noticed several other cars just stopping or crashing. A pickup truck that was stopped at the light, didn’t move when it turned green. The guy in the car behind it, got out after blowing his horn to no avail. He, too, was shocked to see there was no one behind the wheel. The only thing there was a man’s clothing, sunglasses, a watch and cell phone.
Pastor Wayne ran over and looked in. Shocked, he stepped back and looked up to the sky. Then he fell to his knees. He realized what happened.
John ran up to him, “Are you OK?” he asked.
Pastor Wayne looked up at him with tears in his eyes. “It’s the Rapture! We’ve been left behind!”
John looked at him, “What are you nuts?”
“No.” Pastor Wayne responded. “I bet you anything all the folks at First Christian are gone.
“Let’s go down there.”
Both of them ran and a few of their congregation followed curious to know what was going on.
When they got to the neighboring church, they found the doors unlocked and they went in. The silence was deafening. There was no one there. The only thing they could see was clothing, shoes, jewelry, cell phones, Bibles on the floor and on the seats where, obviously, people were sitting.
They noticed in the sound booth that one of the computers was connected to a camera which was live streaming to Facebook. John pulled out his phone and went to the First Christian Church Facebook Page and tapped on the video. He went back a few minutes and there it was. The whole thing was captured on video!
Each person’s body started glowing bright white. They were lifted up and they materialized through the roof leaving clothing and possessions behind. John and Pastor Wayne rewound the video and watched it several times. One of the members of his church, Sally Ann, came up to him hysterical.
“Pastor, my kids are gone! All the kids are gone! Where are they?” she exclaimed.
“Sally Ann,” Pastor Wayne tried to comfort her, “They’re in heaven with Jesus. Let’s get everyone back to our church and I’ll explain.”
Once everyone was back at Beatitudes, Pastor Wayne stepped up to the pulpit and tried to calm everybody down.
“I have been reading about end times prophecies lately. However, I didn’t believe it would happen so soon. And I thought all Christians would be included. How wrong I was. I must apologize. I misled you. You are not a Christian just because you attend a church, volunteer once a week or even sing Christian songs. The born-again evangelicals had it right. The UCC church and other Progressive churches tried to conform to the culture and we missed the boat. Nevertheless, we have a second chance. We can believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the only way.
“As I understand it, we will be going through some rough times and eventually the Great Tribulation. We’ve got to stick together, support each other, read the Bible, and find everything we can on the End Times online and educate ourselves.”
He got down on his knees. “Everyone, come forward. Pray with me. Lord, Jesus, we are sorry that we twisted your Gospel and watered it down. We are sorry that we accepted sinful ways as ‘OK’. Please forgive us. Everyone, repeat after me: Jesus, I am a sinner. I repent of my sins. Please forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross taking all my sins away. I surrender my life to you and invite you into my heart. I will follow you all the days of my life.”
All the people in the church responded. Everyone was sobbing.
Pastor Wayne stood up, “Let’s all meet at First Christian Church after lunch and get everyone baptized in their baptistry.”
John came up to him and softly asked him, “How did you know?”
Pastor Wayne replied, “I’ve read about it. It’s like God was drawing me to the truth, but I resisted. I wanted to be liked and popular. I wanted to fill the pews. But, I was wrong. I should have been saving souls. I’m so grateful that it’s not too late!”
Yes! It’s Not Too Late!
We’re all still here and it’s not too late! This particular scenario is one where the folks that are left behind, who considered themselves “Christians”, realize what is going on and got their second chance. It won’t be so for other “Christians” and other “religious people”.
It’s not too late for you!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
