THE GREAT ESCAPE

Very few Christians think the rapture of the Church is imminent. I hope you aren’t one of them. Perhaps you aren’t familiar with this coming event so here are the scriptures we must accept as they are in God’s Holy Word.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Amplified Bible)
13Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [[a]in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave].
14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [[b]in death].
15For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him [c]in death].
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
17Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
18Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.
They comfort me for I know that a day is coming when I’m going to disappear and meet Jesus in the sky. I won’t be alone for all “born again” Christians will go with me. What saddens me, the churches are filled with Christians in name only thinking they are safe. Before you want to argue with me please understand that Jesus said we must be born again. This means we have to give up our life and receive His.
Most seem to want religion instead so they can go on living at their own pace and not get in lock step with the Holy Spirit. This isn’t hard but it does require a certain amount of discipline. Once Jesus is living inside us we must come under His Lordship. He isn’t our Savior until we do. He said, “It isn’t you who say Lord, Lord that shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but you who do the will of My Father which is in Heaven.“ In Romans we are told, “The sons of God are those who follow the Spirit of God.” He has also told us that we are to pick up our crosses daily and follow after Him. He’s saying we must lay down our life [will] to do the works that God has prepared for us to walk in [do]. Ephesians 2:10
If you aren’t doing them I would bet you’ve never repented of your sins. Repentance is absolutely necessary. Even the criminal on the cross next to Jesus repented before Jesus gave him eternal life. As he hung dying next to his partner in crime he told him to shut up, “we deserve what is happening to us but this Man is innocent.” Then he looked at Jesus and pleaded with Him, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.“ Jesus said, “Today you shall be with me in Paradise.” Sadly, his partner never repented and prevented Jesus saving him too.
Repentance isn’t something we can do apart from the cross. You can tell God you are sorry for your sins until the cows come home and not be forgiven. But when you gaze at Jesus bleeding and dying on the cross for you personally something wonderful happens in our hearts. We find ourselves loving Him as never before. It’s so strong we want to stop sinning and begin to live for Him. This is real repentance, a change of heart for God. I wept a ton of tears when I repented and I suspect God used every one of them to wash out my filthy heart.
Ask yourself this question; Did my life change when I became a Christian? If it hasn’t what are you going to do about it? Hopefully this message has supplied you the answer. Go to the cross and stay there until you have “experienced” God’s forgiveness.
God loves you with agape or unconditional love. He will accept you like you are even though He may hate what you are doing now. I saw God work while serving Him in a two year jail ministry. There weren’t any “good folks” locked behind bars. Someone was praying for them and God in His faithfulness allowed them to hear the Gospel. When they accepted the invitation to receive Jesus as their Lord God He became their Father just as He does for anyone who will do the same. If He loved us in any other way no one could be saved.
So, regardless of your past surrender to Jesus now before the rapture. After we go up, a terrible time of Tribulation is coming upon the earth. I suspect it will begin with a limited nuclear war between Israel and Iran. If I’m right, chaos will disrupt lives as never before. You don’t want to be here, trust me.
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com