WHERE IS THE PROMISE?

 

Friday, August 2, 2024

 

WHERE IS THE PROMISE?

 

2 Peter 3:3-7

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 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. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

 

Matt 24:7-9

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 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.

 

          Chaos has begun and things are becoming uncomfortable for believers and unbelievers alike. Wickedness now parades naked in the streets. The belief in the rapture of believers stands shakily on one leg. Will the bride be rescued from the conflagration? Faith fades while doubt grows. This is the result of interpreting Scripture with the morning news. 

 

          It is true that the word “rapture” appears nowhere in the Bible but “caught up” does appear four times. The Thessalonians wondered where their dead loved ones were, and Paul answered them.

 

1 Thess 4:16-18

16 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:

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.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

          The Greek word harpazo [harpadzo] literally means “to catch away, to pluck up, to pull up, or to take by force.” This is where we find the concept of rapture. It is shrouded in mystery and heavily involved with end time events so that misunderstanding it is easy.

 

          Here’s what I personally believe. No man knows the day nor the hour when the Lord will come [Matthew 25:13]. The escalation of evil and trouble will continue to grow so that we will see and feel it building. I believe we should be looking for that “blessed hope” and glorious appearing of the Lord [Titus 2:13] who shall “change our vile body and fashion it like His very own [Phillipians 3:21].

 

Job 19:25-27

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

 

Sweet Son of God, King of the Universe, I know deep within me that I shall see Thee and not as a stranger. Strengthen that blessed hope within as the heathen rage. AMEN