America has “itchy” ears. Unless you tell them what they want to hear and especially how they want to here…they will not. This is why fearful ministers tip-toe and dance like ballerinas around certain topics in the pulpit.

What is coming on this country socially and financially is the will of God for repentance.

In Romans chapter 1, Paul lays the framework of God’s interaction with a lawless society persisting in wickedness. For such a people, God ceases to restrain them from the lusts of their evil hearts as they willfully plunge into shameless acts of depravity.

From this downward moral spiral, a degenerate philosophy develops among the rebellious. “…They not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them.” This godless philosophy is deceptively named: “Tolerance”.

Tolerance, a worldly belief system, is a selective temperament warmly embracing certain contradictory behavior, opinions, beliefs, religions…etc. Promoted, as the universal acceptance of all, in application, is the unswerving praise of all that is damned. Hypocritically, it endorses corrupt human expression as equal in desirability and value, while consistently rejecting God’s righteous standards.

Frequently, it is championed as the alibi for sexual perversion in the name of equality, false religions as valid spiritual paths, and the destruction of Christian influence as vital to an ‘enlightened’ society.

This unwritten rule of human relations has its roots in the seat of Hell and is executed in the Earth by the spirit of antichrist. With a polished veneer, it thinly sheets the shameless denial of absolutes and moral authority. With overtones of self-rightness, it appeals to the ‘goodness’ in all.

Having blatantly declared itself as Lord, it is, in essence, the brazen ascension of the debased sin nature to the throne of natural life.

Tolerance is the arrogant attempt to remove the foundational vestiges of a Holy God and unite mankind in counterfeit geniality.

Tolerance, therefore, is not God’s gift to Christianity, for God Himself is not tolerant, but merciful (Dan. 9:9), patient (2 Peter 3:9), and long-suffering (Jer. 15:15).

It is, however, God’s gift to a reprobate society.

“Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions”. G. K. Chesterton

A.W. Pink

The Misconception:
The typical church member, if asked how they believe the rapture will take place, will most likely tell you, “it will happen in the blink of an eye. One day there will be a trumpet blast and…[[puff]]…we’re gone!”

But unfortunately, popular Christian movies series and silly t-shirts by clueless filmmakers and misguided entrepreneurs have propagated this ignorant notion.

The Word:
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die physically), but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

The Truth:
Paul clearly states some event will take place “in a moment” and “in the twinkling of an eye”, but it is NOT the catching away of the church, the rapture itself.

God is teaching us our physical bodies will need to be transformed first before we join Him in Heaven and eternity.

In verse 50, we see the context of the whole passage: “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”

Paul then proceeds to explain how our corrupted physical bodies, in order to be taken to Heaven, must be changed first. Even as the heart was changed at conversion, even so our bodies must be changed at His appearing.

This is reinforced in Paul’s letter to the church at Phillipi, chapter 3 and verse 21; “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

How did Elijah leave the Earth? Did He Disappear?

Elijah knowing he would be soon taken from the Earth asked Elisha what he could do for him before leaving. Elisha asked for a double portion of the miraculous Grace that was upon him. Elisha was told, if he saw the prophet being “taken from you”, his desire would be granted.

In II Kings chapter 2:11, God tells us after Elijah and Elisha were separated by a chariot and horses of fire; “Elijah was taken to Heaven in a whirlwind” and Elisha “saw it”!

So Elijah was not dematerialized in an instant, but had a Glorious and observable catching away. In other words, Elisha was an eye-witness to Elijah’s departure.

How did Jesus leave the Earth? Did He vanish?

Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

In Acts 1, we see the disciples starring into the sky. Was it because Jesus suddenly disappeared? Not at all!

Jesus was caught up to Heaven in a manner, which allowed His disciples to observe him “as He was going”, that is until “a cloud hid Him from their sight.” Had he simply vanished, as some believe the rapture will take place, no cloud would have needed to “hide Him”.

While an abrupt departure is cinematically more dramatic, it is clear from God’s own Words…when Jesus returns, all belonging to His body…His Holy Bride will be taken up in the same manner He was.

The planet will witness not only His unexpected and Glorious appearing, but also the majestic calling of His own to Himself. “And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (I Thess 4:17)

So how will the rapture transpire?

1. The Trumpet call of God (1 Cor 15:52, I Thess 4:16).
2. The dead in Christ shall rise up and join Him (I Thess 4:14 & 16).
3. We, who are alive, shall be first changed in a moment and in the blink of an eye (I Thess 4:15 & 17).
4. We shall all be caught up together with Him(I Thess 4:17)!

“Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thess 4:18