As we continue our series on Understanding the End Times, we look deeper into what Scripture says about the Day our Lord Jesus Christ will come for His Church, when we shall be caught up to meet Him in the clouds. This truth should stir our hearts with holy expectation, urging us to remain faithful, watchful, and prepared for whenever He comes. Apostle Paul describes this glorious moment, saying, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Can you imagine it, the Lord descending in triumph, the archangel Michael leading the heavenly procession, and the trumpet of God resounding through the earth. Apostle Paul cautions us not to be deceived by false teachings about rapture, saying, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 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. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first” (2 Thess. 2:1-3a).
This ‘falling away’ refers to the great departure of the Church. Only after that will the man of lawlessness, the antichrist, be revealed (vs.3b–4). And just as God preserved Noah before the flood (Genesis 7), and rescued Lot before the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19), He will also spare His people from the full outpouring of the great tribulation. For now, the presence of the Church restrains the antichrist and holds back total chaos; “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:7-8a). When Jesus, the Bridegroom, comes for His Bride, the restraint will be lifted, and darkness will have its hour. The Bible warns that “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception … because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (vs.9-10). When we no longer delight in God’s Word and Truth, we become vulnerable to the enemy’s lies. Paul continues, “for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (vs.11-12). In other words, God confirms the choice they have already made, giving them over to their own devices and allowing deception to take root.
Jesus illustrates the danger of this in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. Ten virgins took their lamps to meet the Bridegroom, but only five, characterised as wise, carried extra oil (vs.1-4). The wise were willing to go the extra mile to keep their fire burning, while the foolish were content with fading lamps, symbols of dwindling devotion. Church, a lamp without oil may flicker for a while, but without fresh supply it will go out. This is why Hebrews 10:25 urges us to not “forsake 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.” Many in the faith have fallen away, and it is never sudden – it happens in stages, a gradual drifting until one is completely out of touch. So, let us be like the wise virgins so that we do not grow weary in doing good. At midnight, the cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!” (vs.6). The wise were ready, but the foolish tried to borrow oil when they realised their lamps were going out (vs.7-8). Church, you cannot borrow intimacy with God – you must cultivate it personally. And so, while they went out to buy, the Bridegroom came, and the door was shut (vs.10). So it will be at rapture: sudden, unexpected, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). No one knows the day nor the hour (Matthew 24:36), but we must always be ready because once Christ comes, it will be too late to prepare. Just as in the days of Noah, when the ark stood open for years, but only he and his family entered, and the Lord Himself shut the door (Genesis 7:16), so too will the final door close. Saints, do not be found outside when that day comes. Keep your lamp burning bright and let your love for the truth keep you ready for the glorious day of Christ’s return.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise of Christ’s return. Holy Spirit, help us to keep our fire burning and guard our hearts from deception. We choose, this day, to delight in Your Word and love Your Truth, so You can find us ready when You return. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
