At the end of the Book of Revelation, Jesus having just had John the Apostle record the end of the world, out of which Jesus promised while walking on earth and then had His writers like Paul declare that He would be coming back to catch away true believers from it all before the worst of the worst would happen in judgment, said “I come quickly” (22:12 & 20). 

He is going to enact what is called the “rapture.” It comes from terminology in First Thessalonians 4:13-18 that literally means “catch away.”

Jesus through His Holy Word assures us that as bad as the world would become approaching the time of the “rapture”, He would come quickly just before the worst gets worse. 

The chaos that pre-empts God’s wrath which is described in the last half of the Book of Revelation, will be horrific enough for His children (true believers). 

He told His church just before His crucifixion and resurrection in John 14 that He was about to go and prepare a beautiful place, mansions, for them, and He said that if He was going to do that, He would come back and get them.  

He is coming for His church, His family of true believers, but first the conditions of the world would become intolerable.  

Read Matthew chapters 24 and 25, but in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 Paul writes, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds…” 

2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 gives information on some of what is to be happening before Jesus comes back with the deliverance of the true believers and judgment upon the lost.

You can see in these passages, including Matthew 24 and 25 that our world is at the door of Jesus return.  

It’s simple, turn from embracing the world and sin and call unto Jesus to save you from your sin and condemnation, and He promises to do so, if you truly believe He died and rose again to save you. Trust Him as your personal Savior. Call to Him today. (Romans 10:13)

 

Charles Empey is the Pastor of Cove Baptist Church, Orange, Texas.