So far in this series, we’ve looked at how different religions and “Christian” denominations would handle getting left behind at the Rapture of the true Christian believers. In this post, we’ll look at how the Rapture may happen from the view of the Christians, my view.
Here are the groups we’ve covered so far. The…
Before we get into the story, let’s look at…
The Scripture that the Rapture is based on…
Paul wrote…
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
Jesus told us…
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
Matthew 24:36-40 NLT
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 happens at 10 AM in Phoenix, AZ, it will nighttime in Australia. The idea behind these fictional scenarios, 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.
What the Rapture May be Like if it Happened on a Sunday Morning in Phoenix, AZ….
First Christian Church of Phoenix holds two services every Sunday morning — 9 and 10:45 AM. I work both services either running the Facebook Live broadcast or the slides (depending on where they need me.) This morning, we were starting to get the numbers back after the whole COVID scare that had us social distancing and wearing masks. Things were almost back to normal.
Church attendance actually grew during the pandemic, as other area churches remained closed. Folks who didn’t feel comfortable coming to the live service watched on Facebook Live. This morning we had about a dozen on Facebook. There were a good 3-400 in the sanctuary.
Around 10 AM, Pastor Chuck Foreman was winding down his message. He always ended with “The Big Idea”. That was also the cue for the worship team to come back on stage.
What first caught everyone’s attention was the sound of a loud horn blowing. We weren’t sure where it was coming from. It didn’t sound like a normal car horn. Pastor Chuck made a joke, “Jesus is calling us!”
It’s uncanny how right he was!
Then we heard the metal holders of the ceramic plaques of the columbarium, as they popped out and became projectiles landing several feet away. Next, the name plates on each of the slots that held the ashes of our deceased members flew off. The containers with the ashes fell out, opened up and the ashes swirled up, and became glowing white figures that disappeared into the sky.
Needless to say, everyone in the congregation stood up and was staring out the east window watching this phenomenon.
I stood up from behind the computer in the sound booth. I knew what was going on. I knew because Paul told us that the dead in Christ would rise first. Here they were in our columbarium!
On stage, the guitarists dropped their guitars, the singers dropped their mics as their bodies started to change.
Immediately, I felt a tingling all over my body. My skin started glowing and I felt myself being lifted up. I was weightless. I realized that I, along with everyone else in the church de-materialized and floated through the ceiling of the building. The force pulling each of us was supernatural. I’d never felt anything like that. Could this be what g-forces feel like?
I looked around and all my friends from church — my church family — were with me. In the distance, I saw others being caught up. I was elated. This was it! The Rapture! Praise God!
I looked up to heaven as the earth grew smaller and smaller and we got closer to the brightest light I’ve ever seen. But, it wasn’t like staring at the sun that hurt my eyes. No, you didn’t need sunglasses. Is that Jesus?!
Now, mind you, this is happening in the twinkling of an eye — moments — milliseconds — to the people on earth. I think only the Christians will hear the trumpet call of God. Halfway Christians, and unsaved people won’t hear it. They’ll see people vanishing, driverless vehicles crashing. God forbid if you’re on an airplane and both the pilot and copilot are Christians! Millions of people will be gone. I’ll be doing a few more vignettes on different scenarios — next with government leaders who get left behind.
What Will Heaven Be Like?
I’m not that imaginative! I’m going to let the Apostle John tell you in Revelation chapters 4 and 5. He had the vision. I don’t think any human can truly describe what heaven will be like. However, we can certainly imagine what life will be like for those left behind.
Here is someone else’s creative view of what a “Sunday Morning Rapture” would be like. It’s a good story, but fair warning, the acting leaves something to be desired….
Will You Be Left Behind?
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…
