Message from the Pastor

The 23rd and 24th of September have both come and gone, and along with them the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) which means the predicted rapture did not happen. I know this will be disappointing for those who had listened to the predictions from the Youtube speaker brother Joshua and others. It would of course have been wonderful to be taken up to be with the Lord and meet Him in glory, and be forever in His presence, so this definitely isn’t a “good, I told you so” message!

However, firstly we are not told the time or the hour of Christ’s return, and so must treat any human predictions of this very warily. After all, Jesus  Himself said: “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things  happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” (Matthew 24:36 NLT) So, if the angels in heaven are not permitted to know, and even Christ Himself when limited in human form didn’t know, why would we expect to know or believe self-proclaimed prophets when they say they know.

Secondly, the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture of believers is very little  supported if at all in Scripture. In fact, there is a far greater weight of Scriptural evidence against it. For example, in a letter to the church in Thessaloniki, the apostle Paul says: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the with the trumpet call of God……..Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” (1Thessalonians 4:16,17 NLT)

So, it seems that if there is some sort of tribulation that is going to happen at a specific time rather than a general trouble as some Christians believe, the Church of God will not be exempted from it. However, we are called to be ready, to be expectant to meet with Christ, and that He could come at any time, like a thief in the night (cf 2 Peter 3:10).

Therefore, let’s always be living lives that honour Him, and that will not find us wanting on His return, if (assuming I am wrong) we are raptured, or when our lives end and we go to be with Him.

  

Alan