No, Santa is not coming to town. The idea of some corpulent elf committing breaking and entering and leaving trinkets at the cost of a few Chips Ahoy and a glass of tepid milk is actually somewhat disturbing. My purpose today, the day after we were all supposed to go poof like rabbits in a magicians hat, is to weigh in on all this rapture sensationalism of which the world cannot seem to get enough.
Christians are given pretty clear instructions on just about every topic, and the topic of the rapture is no exception in this litany of doctrines. In fact, the instructions on this are clear to the point that they were words straight out of the mouth of Jesus himself, in no uncertain terms. Since it is under the banner of Christ's name that Christians stake our claim, you would think that Christ's words would be a pretty good authority regarding the details as to his own reunion tour. If you have a Bible, or even a google search bar, I encourage you to read Matthew 24:36. Christ is abundantly clear on this point. No one, not even Jesus, knows the hour of his return, except for the Father. Trying to say that the Bible teaches a specific date or time is straying clear into the territory of gnostic heresy. We are even warned of these heretics in the very same chapter. Back up a bit and look at verses 11 through 13 in this same chapter. Jesus himself says many will be lead astray and because of the increase in lawlessness in the world the love of many will soon draw an icy chill, but we are told to endure, holding fast to what is right, if you will. Lets read a little further and perhaps we can glean some insight as to how the rapture will really take place. In verses 37 through 44 of Matthew 24 we are told that it will be as it was when Noah had prepared for the flood. Life will continue on at a normal rate, people will feast, they will get married, Christians will still be labeled as idiots and weirdos. The tempo of the world will carry on in an otherwise normal fashion up until the moment that the Father has predestined. We are called to be ready, and we are even told to anticipate the return of Christ (see James 5:7-11) but we are called to be diligent in the meantime. We are not however called to try to figure out some bizarre secret code that would grant us some "special knowledge" as to when and how Christ will make his reappearance.
So what is the Christian response to this flurry of speculation about the rapture? Well, if you read just a bit further in Matthew 24 starting in verse 45 and continuing through verse 47 we are told to continue on as servants of our master, doing as He has instructed us. The instruction we have received from our master states simply: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Christians are called to preach the gospel in love, proclaiming the good news that Christ has come to this earth, as God made flesh, to live a perfectly righteous life. This same Christ died on the cross as a sacrificial atonement for sin, and has been raised from the dead and now lives to make intercession on our behalf to the Father as our perfect and spotless Lamb. There will be a day when Christ returns. Make no mistake about it, it could be three seconds after I hit the enter key or it could be 3000 years from now, but there will be a judgement day. Until then, I'm content to continue telling you about this Jesus who credits sinners with undeserved righteousness.
Christians frequently get it wrong when it comes to being Christ-like, there might even be some heretics thrown into the mix to really muddy the waters, but the promises of God as found in his Word are always faithful.
Christians are given pretty clear instructions on just about every topic, and the topic of the rapture is no exception in this litany of doctrines. In fact, the instructions on this are clear to the point that they were words straight out of the mouth of Jesus himself, in no uncertain terms. Since it is under the banner of Christ's name that Christians stake our claim, you would think that Christ's words would be a pretty good authority regarding the details as to his own reunion tour. If you have a Bible, or even a google search bar, I encourage you to read Matthew 24:36. Christ is abundantly clear on this point. No one, not even Jesus, knows the hour of his return, except for the Father. Trying to say that the Bible teaches a specific date or time is straying clear into the territory of gnostic heresy. We are even warned of these heretics in the very same chapter. Back up a bit and look at verses 11 through 13 in this same chapter. Jesus himself says many will be lead astray and because of the increase in lawlessness in the world the love of many will soon draw an icy chill, but we are told to endure, holding fast to what is right, if you will. Lets read a little further and perhaps we can glean some insight as to how the rapture will really take place. In verses 37 through 44 of Matthew 24 we are told that it will be as it was when Noah had prepared for the flood. Life will continue on at a normal rate, people will feast, they will get married, Christians will still be labeled as idiots and weirdos. The tempo of the world will carry on in an otherwise normal fashion up until the moment that the Father has predestined. We are called to be ready, and we are even told to anticipate the return of Christ (see James 5:7-11) but we are called to be diligent in the meantime. We are not however called to try to figure out some bizarre secret code that would grant us some "special knowledge" as to when and how Christ will make his reappearance.
So what is the Christian response to this flurry of speculation about the rapture? Well, if you read just a bit further in Matthew 24 starting in verse 45 and continuing through verse 47 we are told to continue on as servants of our master, doing as He has instructed us. The instruction we have received from our master states simply: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Christians are called to preach the gospel in love, proclaiming the good news that Christ has come to this earth, as God made flesh, to live a perfectly righteous life. This same Christ died on the cross as a sacrificial atonement for sin, and has been raised from the dead and now lives to make intercession on our behalf to the Father as our perfect and spotless Lamb. There will be a day when Christ returns. Make no mistake about it, it could be three seconds after I hit the enter key or it could be 3000 years from now, but there will be a judgement day. Until then, I'm content to continue telling you about this Jesus who credits sinners with undeserved righteousness.
Christians frequently get it wrong when it comes to being Christ-like, there might even be some heretics thrown into the mix to really muddy the waters, but the promises of God as found in his Word are always faithful.
