Acts 1:11 Which also said, you men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven.
The above Scripture (Acts 1:11) is the Words of the Angels to the 500 people as they watched Jesus be Ascended into Heaven. Obviously, they stood in total amazement as He went up and was received into the cloud. The question from the Angels was: Why are you amazed? Then they reminded them that He would be coming back just as He left.
My friends, these Words are a Message of Hope! The Word of God tells us that Jesus will be coming back for His Bride, the Church. 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)
This is the primary Scripture concerning what we know as the Rapture of the Church. I believe this will take place prior to the Great Tribulation. Some Christians believe it will happen after the seven years of Tribulation while others believe it will take place halfway through it.
I place my opinion about this on God’s Pattern of behavior in the past and the Word of God. The first time God shook the whole world was with the Great Flood in the days of Noah. At this time, He gave the people 120 years notice to get their hearts right with Him. Noah told them what was going to happen but they refused to believe. Then, when the time was right, God shut the door to the Ark and that was it. All those who were not inside were killed by the flood.
In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, the same pattern occurred. The world had gotten horrible. Sin was running rampant and God warned the people of what was to come. Lot and his family heeded the warning and fled the city. When Lot’s wife stopped and looked back, God turned her into a pillar of salt. Then He burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to the ground and all therein perished.
In both cases, God warned the people of what was to happen. He gave them every opportunity to change prior to the drastic event. That very same thing is happening today. The world is getting worse by the day and God is warning the people. Who is listening? How many are turning from sin and seeking Righteousness?
Jesus is about to come back. Every Prophesy in the Bible has come to pass up to the Rapture of the Church. Time is short; very, very short. We do not know how much more time we have but we do know that when God gives the Command, there will be no more chances for anyone on Earth. This is His Pattern. He has always done it this way and He told us, I am the Lord. I change not. (Malachi 3:6) Hear the Word of God. Heed the warning. Turn from your wicked ways and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
God is about to….…….turn the tide
Ready to fly, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
