What if I don’t go in the rapture…. This post is going to seem like a buzzkill, but really it is not - keep in mind as I write this the purpose is ENCOURAGEMENT! When I say “what if I don’t go in the rapture” I am not inferring, that I am not saved. Nor am I inferring, what if I am wrong in my beliefs about a pre-tribulation rapture- this is not what I am thinking about here. When I ask this question of myself, what I am really asking is, have I deluded myself thinking that I am in that generation that will be raptured? What if I am wrong? Although I feel pretty certain that I am in this generation, what really got me to thinking about this is my mom. When she passed last year, it really caused a lot of reflection for me , because I really thought she would live to see the rapture, and so did she. So I got to thinking, if she thought she was in the generation and passed away - so could I. And believe me, I live my life like I will not see death, but will hopefully be raptured. I don’t live like it is tomorrow if I knew that for SURE I would sell everything and give it away to charity etc etc. But we don’t know that. But I sure do live like it will be in my lifetime. I have a little savings, but I am entirely unprepared for retirement. I know I should put more away for my eventual retirement but I just can’t get overly amped up about that since I really feel like I won’t be around to worry about that. (I also see a lot of futility anyway since where can you put your money that is safe these days also?) I also have a lot of dental work I keep putting off hoping I won’t have to worry about that, maybe sometime this year I’ll be outta her right? But then this past year especially, reality hits and I say, well, my mom was just like me and she didn’t make it to the rapture but passed on. But mom was a good example - she never had any retirement other than social security, but she never needed anything and she lived a happy and full life until she got sick. Mom also put off her share of dental issues lol, but she still was able to enjoy any food she wanted right up until she passed. So anyway, let me wrap this up. We all see the famine and shortages being forecast on the horizon. It really looks like the 3rd seal, which should encourage us because I really don’t think we are here for any of the seals, so the rapture must be getting close - but then the buzzkill side of me kicks in and says, the world has had terrible famines before that were not seal judgements so what if we are just about to experience that? What if I am not appointed to that generation that gets the get off the earth free card? There are many detractors of us pre-tribbers saying we are escapists and that we would not be able to face the AC - my answer to this is that there are many Christians to this day giving their life for Christ, so if you are prepared to give your life for Christ in any generation - this shouldn’t even be an issue to even worry about - and this is where the encouragement comes in - I know this post has been mostly a buzzkill - but my whole point is this. I will be OK no matter what. YOU will also be OK no matter what. My mom didn’t make the rapture, but so what, she lived a good life, had faith until the end and ran her race well. I have my eye on the finish line also which is not the rapture, it is the end of my race. I am determined to run well if I live to be an old man. I am determined to run well if we suffer persecution or war or famine - I am determined to run well. I think as long as we all keep that in mind we will be ok, and who knows maybe, hopefully, we don’t make it to the finish line because we get snatched up sometime before the end of our races. I hope you guys all took this post for the spirit in which it was intended - we are going to be OK no matter what - but don’t take this the wrong way, this does not mean that I am not looking for the rapture every day, it just means while I am hoping for a short term rescue, I am preparing for a long race if need be. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” I Corinthians 9:24-25 NKJV “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” II Timothy 1:12 NKJV Well … I’m still staying hopeful this is our departure year … after Oct … if still here … then I will have to re-evaluate things. What is different in 2022 vs other years of closely watching? 3 red heifers are ready for this September only 3 months or less to build the temple OWR Chrislam worship center grand opening the end of this year NWO Great Reset Goal Post Plan by 2030 - 7 = 2023 Feast of Trumpets - means head of the new year … Jewish New Year Sept 2023 😉 coincidence that the feast: Starts sundown Sunday 9/25/22 Monday 9/26/22 Ends sundown Tuesday 9/27/22 … Daniel 9:27 “and he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week” Shemetah Cycle - 11th (11 in the Bible means chaos, disorder, judgement) starts the next batch of 7 years I believe the key in Luke 21 passage below is this verse: Luke 21:28 And when these things begin 😉 to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Calamity of woes … some even BEFORE tribulation life begins … are we not seeing some of them now? B-) 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls. 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear (getting the vaxx - producing blood clots/heart attacks/strokes), and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken (is this describing a nuke war?) 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. I appreciate this post Derrick. I think all of us have been down that road, sometimes more than once thinking....are we THE generation? While we have all thought the Rapture would have happened by now, we also see new things and purpose in what has gone on in the world first and foremost to bring people to salvation and also to encourage us and help us to be able to point things out that will help those left behind. If it were just famine alone that the world was facing it would be reasonable to say that that coming tragedy by itself is not evidence of the nearness of His return.....but it's not famine alone, it's the world turning to a world system of news, government and soon money. It is the coming cashless society, the rise of lawlessness and evil, the technology of the mark which is readily available. It is the movement of peoples and alignments that support the set up of all the old prophecies soon to come to pass including Ezekiel 38, Isaiah 17 and Psalm 83. I have always felt that the most important indicator for His soon appearing and our gathering in the Rapture is the Spirit of the Lord that speaks to our hearts and so many others about the nearness of His return. Ten years ago, one could listen to JD or Jan Markell and a handful of others.....now there are literally hundreds of regular people who are now watchmen for the Lord (not all are sound...discernment needed) and many others like us who have felt the Spirit draw us to watch, to learn, and most importantly to warn others that the coming of the Lord is near....and it is nearer than it has ever been. Many of us were ready yesterday....lol and continue to eagerly watch everyday, and will continue watching but I think the Lord has let us know that the signs keep converging, and prophecy is coming alive before our eyes.....and my heart says soon and very soon we are going to see the King. :amen: Everyday folks feel the nearness of His return....be encouraged siblings! Hopefully the false labor pains are done! Now time for our new birth! TR Meaningless, but... Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 "Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun." "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going." I'm honestly not expecting that Sheol part, Derrick, even though my Rapture expectation track record has been 100% wrong so far. Still just relying on God for anything, "...who richly provides us with everything to enjoy." So far, so good. No? Amen, amen, all good replies. Sometimes I feel like the scoffers argument is the scoffers best argument - “All things go on as they have always been since the fathers fell asleep” The truth is, all things are not going on as they have been since the beginning, as so many of you so adequately pointed out - but sometimes it still feels that way, even we as watchers are susceptible to the old frog in the pot of warm water syndrome - for instance, when the “supremes” said it was ok for gay marriage in 2015 we all thought that was awful, and surely we are in the days of Lot since our country is now embracing the acts of Sodom and Gomorrah, but then what? Nothing, true justice from on high deferred yet again and slowly society changes to give that abomination the ok and deteriorate into worse abominations where now in our day it is obvious that children are being groomed. Sometimes I certainly can feel like John the Baptist in prison “Are you the one to come or do we look for another?” Or in today’s terms “are You still coming Lord?” But as we look around, indeed the manifold signs all around us scream that indeed we are the generation an we do not need to look to another. But I guess my wrestling started as I started thinking, boy oh boy, God sure does have a way of dragging this thing out doesn’t He? Its like a rubber band getting pulled ever tighter that never seems to break. So then after my mom passed, I thought I am in my 50s and I have been actively watching since the late 90s so even though to me I had a lot of reasons to think He was coming “this year” for the past 30 years- I have also seen how good God is at hitting the pause button and stretching it out a little longer and certainly that is His prerogative. But I thought if He is able to stretch this thing out another 30 years that would put me in my 80s and I might be in the same boat as my mom and go by the natural way, so that’s what gave me pause to think I had better pace myself in my race and run with endurance and consider, do I have enough faith to make it the next 30 years if I had to? Even in these wicked days? I sure hope so. The truth is I don’t know, because my heart is deceitful and desperately wicked and only the Lord knows the man I will be 30 years from now if I am still here. But I am purposed to run a good race, and trust that the Father will keep my heart true to Him. Yet, thank you fo the reminder that this race is probably coming to a close, the sun is about to set on history and so many of the things that you all wrote are reminders of that. I also really think it will be this year, but I am cautious in allowing my heart to hope too much because so many other times I have had reason to really think “this has to be it” and yet my heart deceived me, so I am a bit more reserved and tempered in my resolve. Personally, I am really hoping for Second Passover in May to be a date to watch, I know some have already given reasons for it on this forum, and I have a few of my own that I might post about as the time gets a little closer. If we are still here, lol, it would not hurt my feelings at all if we didn’t make it that far. ...do I have enough faith to make it the next 30 years if I had to? Of course we can't store up enough faith to last 30 years, nor should we. Think "Manna." Daily bread... But it's hard to stop wondering / hoping about the yummy Rapture, isn't it? We're wisest to avoid the thought of quail, regardless of it's imagined yumminess. Okay, Mom. I'll take some manna. Thanks. Blessed art thou oh Lord, for the manna we are about to enjoy today. When you said …. the “supremes” said it was ok for gay marriage in 2015 we all thought that was awful, My mind initially went to Diana Ross and “the Supremes” singing “Stop in the Name of Love before you break my heart” :scratch: Then I realized you were referring to the Supreme Court. Well don’t get discouraged in watching … many of us have been faithfully watching since the 1970’s and we haven’t thrown in the towel yet … this year we expect GREAT things and are almost home! Keep your eyes on the sky :whistle: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: :flyup: Great word Dan! Man o manna! TR
