The Pretribulation Rapture - The Promise

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” 

–Jesus  

(Revelation 3:10)

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that things are heating up here on earth. 

Crime is spiraling out of control in most cities. Gun control laws are not slowing the murder rates in places such as Chicago, where murder is at an all-time high. Drug trafficking continues to rise. Families continue to split apart through adultery, selfishness and divorce. Traditional values once embraced by the majority have been overrun by a perverse culture gone wild. What was once thought to be ungodly and immoral is now accepted, hailed and embraced by the liberal majority as "good" and "normal."

The global climate is warming up. Huge glaciers and ice caps continue to melt at unprecedented rates. Storms and weather patterns across the world are changing and intensifying. Wildfires are more common. Some of the world's top scientists are saying, if we continue to use up our natural resources at the current rate of consumption, the planet only has about twenty five to thirty good years left.

The global economy is on shaky ground. Some countries have had to be bailed out by the stronger, more affluent nations. The economic future of the world is uncertain. War and uprisings in the middle east continue to escalate. Super power nations like Russia only compounding the problem. Nation rising against nation. 

Fear, paranoia, and conspiracy theories abound.

Where will it end?

No matter what you believe, most people are uneasy. Everyone knows things are not as they should be.

Most have probably heard of things such as Armageddon, the Rapture, or Pretribulation Rapture, The Great Tribulation, the End Times, the Last Days, or the end of the world. Countless movies and television shows have focused on these topics over the last few years. People are curious, worried, and uncertain as to what the future holds for them.

The Bible teaches of a period called The Tribulation; which are the last seven years of the world as we know it. It will be a time of trouble, horror, suffering and tribulation, such as the world has never seen, nor will ever see again; especially the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation, known as the Great Tribulation.

I would not want to be on earth during The Tribulation for anything in the world. And as a follower of Christ, I won't have to be. Nor will you, if you love Jesus Christ, and believe fully upon Him alone for your salvation.

Jesus made an amazing promise to the faithful Church in the last days:

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:8, 10) 

The "hour of trial" spoken of here refers to the Tribulation period, which, as Jesus stated, will "come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on earth."

And the troubles and tribulation the people of earth are experiencing today is just a whisper of what is to come. People have no idea of what is coming.

Jesus said of this time of Tribulation:

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

You can debate and argue the particulars of eschatology (end times doctrine) all you want. One thing I know is that Jesus made this promise to the faithful Church in Revelation 3:10, and I am taking Him at His word. And I will not be here when God begins to pour out His judgment on a Christ-rejecting, sinful world.

But the Good News is, no one has to be here to receive the wrath of God's judgment during the Tribulation period. Jesus made the way of escape for all when He went to the Cross to pay for the penalty of the sins of man. And we are all guilty. No one is "good" except God. No one is sinless except Jesus Christ.

Jesus—the Son of God said:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:16-20) 

Jesus made the way for all. He is the Way for all. The gift of eternal life is free. Jesus Himself is eternal life. But you have to choose to receive Him.

—You can choose to receive the Penalty.

—Or you can choose to receive the Promise.

The choice is yours. Therefore, choose Life.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.