WATCHING AND WAITING

The term 'rapture' is commonly used to describe a monumental event that, according to prophecy, is 'near-at-hand'. It represents the moment when Christ comes 'in the air' to gather those who have surrendered to His Lordship. 

Christians are to live with hearts filled with the anticipation of 'going home'. Current events dictate that we are coming to the end of the 'age of grace'. We are to diligently watch for Jesus to appear.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:42-44

After the rapture, a seven-year tribulation period (in which the Lord disciplines Israel and finalizes judgment on unbelievers) will take place. At its completion, Christ will come 'to the earth' and establish His Millennial Kingdom. 

Dr John MacArthur gives us five things that will occur then ...

1. CHRIST’S EXALTATION

The revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ will bring His long-due and eternally deserved exaltation. He will finally be crowned “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14+). He has been generally neglected, humiliated, despised, and rejected for 2,000 years since His first coming. His second coming will end that, for then “every knee [will] bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth” (Phil. 2:10). 

2. SATAN’S DEFEAT

The Lord’s return will bring Satan’s final defeat, humiliation, and punishment, which he deserves, just as Christ deserves, and will then receive exaltation. Satan will no longer be “the ruler of the world” (John 14:30) or “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2+). He will be bound for a thousand years, released for a little while, then chained and thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity (Rev. 19:20+; Rev 20:10+).

3. JUSTICE FOR THE MARTYRS

The Lord’s return will bring retribution against all who have persecuted and afflicted God’s faithful people. In his vision of the seal judgments, John “saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ” (Rev. 6:9–10+) When the Son returns, God will take that long-deserved and long-delayed vengeance. 

4. THE DEATH OF CHRIST REJECTORS

Christ’s return will bring the death of all who have rejected Him. “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,” He will deal out “retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His power's glory”. (2 Thess. 1:7–9+). The Lord is coming to judge those who have hated and rejected Him.

5. HEAVEN FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE

For all who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, His coming will mean heaven for all eternity. Unlike Satan’s defeat, justice for the martyrs, and death for Jesus' rejectors, our gift of heaven will be totally undeserved. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) In ourselves we deserve the same fate as they; but in Christ, we are granted forgiveness, redemption, holiness, and life everlasting in the presence of the unfading glory of our Lord.

Concerning the 'rapture', pilgrim ... I encourage you to live as though the Lord were at the gate. Arrange your affairs accordingly; for the gate latch is soon to be lifted. And if (because of His 'longsuffering') He delays, you must not become listless. Ever live, ever think, and ever work as though the Lord is about to come for you.

Maranatha ...