Views: 39
As a young person growing up, I remember how each Monday Night Football game on TV began: Are you ready for some fooooootball? One stanza of Johnny Pearson’s (2011-present) version of the song went like this:
Are you ready
Are you ready
Are you ready, ready
Are you ready for some football?
Perhaps the same question should be asked: Are you ready, ready for the Rapture?
There are different views of end-times theology. I’m in the “pre-everything” camp but enjoy friendships with folks with different views.
One of the truths I love about the pre-tribulation view of the rapture—is the belief that Jesus returns to rescue His people before seven years of increasingly overwhelming judgment rained down on the earth by God—is the readiness that it requires of believers in Jesus.
What Does the Bible Say About the Coming Rapture?
Jesus said it like this in Matthew 25:13 – NCV: ‘So always be ready, because you don’t know the day or the hour the Son of Man will come.’
The apostle Paul described it this way: “For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thess.4:16, 17)
In the 1970s, there was a compelling movie series that, as movies go back then, was filmed and acted poorly, but the message was very persuasive, and many people came to Christ. After watching the movie A Thief in the Night, I saw every cloud in the sky as the possible “transporter” and loud trumpet blast Jesus might use to take His people home to heaven.
It caused in me a divine impatient readiness and urgency to share Christ and live full-on for Him.
Over the years, that practice of looking for Christ’s soon return began to die down.
How unfortunate for me.
The Key to Being Ready for the Rapture
Regardless of our eschatology (pre-, post-, mid-, denier, confused, or whatever), we all need to get ourselves and everyone else around us ready for the return of Christ.
We need to put our trust in Jesus if we happen not to be a Christian. And do it before it’s too late. (John 3:16-18) Remember, Jesus died in your place for your sin to deliver us from “the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
Everyone and anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation will be saved—any who don’t will face dreadful and gruesome judgments (see the book of Revelation).
So, trust in Jesus now.
We need to share Jesus accurately, clearly, and urgently because God doesn’t desire anyone to perish in the coming judgments…(2 Peter 3:9,10).
We need to live holy lives for God’s glory (2 Peter 3:11,12) so that when He returns, we receive the rewards that are given to us for following Him and to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
Hank Williams Jr.’s (1989-2011) version of the Monday Night Football theme song went like this:
So get ready
I mean, get ready
Are you ready for some fooooootball?
While it was a rousing ‘get-ready-for football’ song, may we all be rapture-ready.
Perhaps we all should put “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” by Larry Norman in our favorite playlists today.
Are you rapture-ready?
Is that a cloud I see and a trumpet I hear?
