During an impromptu bible discussion centered around the introduction of my book, “Understanding The Word of God”, I was asked, “In view of the events taking place in our country and around the world, do you think we are going through the tribulations spoken of in Revelation, and if so, have we, the divided church been left behind?” The divided church, as well as the divided ethnic groups, is a unreconciliable reality that should be condemned by the churches. Rather, proclaimed ministers of God are using their position to foster an element of hate among their parishioners. The devil introduced hate into the Garden of Eden, now humanity in its infinite wisdom have found a way to eradicate hate by stirring the cauldron of hate. The proliferation of the churches and the divided churches has begun to pose many questions. In the light of the parable of the ten virgins, many of these questions would warrant a church or organization even a group being left behind when Christ return for his church.
The most unacceptable question was framed, "Do you think Christ has already come back to claim his Church and we are going through the Tribulation?" This question is unacceptable not because of the question of salvation during the tribulation, but because it would cast certain elements of our religious community in an unfavorable light. The pomp and pageantry are beginning to overshadow Christian worship as churching and clubbing become synonymous. Going to church to get my "Praise On" just does not seems to have been the intent of the formation of the church. Praising God is something we should do every day of our life. I challenge you to think on these things.
Being left behind is a concept of the Rapture doctrine that is said to not exist before John Darby invented it in 1830. The Rapture doctrine which is based upon 1st Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” To most, the Rapture doctrine is a confusing entity, there seems to be a lack of consensus as to what happens next. There are those who believe in it and there are those who do not believe in it. Those who believe are divided into at least four groups, pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation and those who say, “I don’t know, I just want to be ready when he comes”.
Quite a few years have passed since I had seen the movie series, Left Behind, and the questions that the movies stirred still remain fresh in my mind. My search for answers caused me to engage the minds of pastors, ministers and most anybody that was willing to engage in a discussion of the subject of being Left behind, or the Rapture. Regardless of the position chosen, pre-Trib, mid-Trib or Post-Trib, they all used the Bible to support their belief. Some denominations teach that there is no scripture support of the “Rapture” taking place, past, present or future. To place a seal on the subject, many pious prelates are content in stated that the word Rapture cannot be found in the bible as if this is a definitive statement. Furthermore, any discussion of whether the Rapture is a real event or that it has happened or will happen does not fit the narrative of many modern day churches.
The proliferation of the churches allows for diverse doctrines and interpretation. A doctrine, a set of beliefs that are taught by the church is often more important to the articles of faith than in-depth Bible Study. Many of us who grew up reading a certain translation of the Bible is appalled that certain Bible publishers are editing the Bible to make it politically correct. This is nothing new. In the early 1500’s Martin Luther performed a major edit of the Bible, and from his works emerged the King James Bible. Thus began the division or separation of the Catholic and Protestant Bibles. Yet, through all of man’s attempts to water down, to shape, and twist the Word of God, it still emerges with power and conviction to those who are willing to open up their hearts and study.
Now, there are those who hold the belief that as long as the church is present here on earth God’s wrath will be restrained. It is after the events portrayed in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 have transpired, that the trumpets of Heaven will continue to sound. According to Revelation the trumpets indicates that the wrath of God is being poured out. The bases of this belief are, God always protects his own the same as he did in the day of Noah. Using the church as a marker, unfortunately, opens the door to a much deeper and divided discussion. What church is being referenced? In view of the great proliferation of the church, to use the cliché, the church exists within the heart seemed a bit out of place. Now the question emerges again, did Christ come back and call the church out long before it became a confused and divided body? This would make sense to me.
Jesus’s message to the seventh or the final church of the church age, (Revelation 3: 14-22) is or was a message of rebuke to an apostate church. The closing of his message is an indication that he is no longer speaking to the churches, he is speaking to the individual. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (
These verses seem to make reference to a time when Christ comes back in the clouds; not setting foot on the earth, but calling the saints to meet him in the air. This reference an event known in the English language as the “Rapture”. True, the word “Rapture” is not found in the Bible, neither is computers or coffee, but for certain reasons, it is a point of contention for many of the different doctrines and opinions that make up the realm of Christendom. The phrase “CAUGHT UP” is in the Scripture and “Caught up” means the same thing as “Rapture.” The same argument used to invalidate the Rapture can be used to invalidate many of the biblical prophecies. The Bible is filled with prophecies, and it is these prophecies that disturb mankind. If changing the meaning or eliminating certain words or verses will change the meaning of a prophecy, then this is the route humanity tends to follow.
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (
The question that plagues many who ascribe to the Rapture doctrine is, can people repent and be saved after the Rapture? The Bible teaches that millions will repent and come to Christ for salvation during the time following the Rapture of the church. John was given a vision of that time after the church had been caught up, he saw millions of people wearing dazzling white robes standing before the throne of God. There were so many that they couldn’t be counted by man. An "elder" in Heaven asked John, who these people were. John didn't know but knew that the one asking the question knew. The conversation went like this, according to John, who recorded it: "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7.14)
The Bible is explicit in its prediction of the destruction that is to befall this earth before the end of time. The doomsday scriptures are often overlooked in favor of scriptures that seem to predict peace, love, and tranquility. As I stated earlier, there is a consensus among many Christians that the wrath of God will not be poured out until the church is safe in Heaven. Now, again, I have injected the word ‘church’ into this discussion, a word whose modern-day definition is dubious at best. The prophecies of destruction are upon us, and the church with its pomp and pageantry, changing manifestos, programs, and money collections does not seem to be a haven of protection from the wrath of God.
Where is that glorious church that Jesus spoke of, that church that Jesus said the gates of hell would not be able to stand against?
"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." (Luke 21:11)
"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;" (Revelation 6:15)
"For the great day of his wrath comes; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17)
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Daniel 12:4)
There is no doubt that the age of ungodliness, hatred, and destruction is upon us. Revelation 13:1. The scoffers and the intellectuals alike will say that this is nothing new. Rather than trying to establish our own timeline and relativity, and bringing forth the "isms" of a polluted ideology, maybe we should ask, “how long has it been since the true church was caught up?” After a moment of reflection and contemplation It is easy to be conceded that it seems as if the tribulation spoken of in the Bible is upon us, and maybe, just maybe, we are the tribulation force.
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