Why should I get saved now? I can just wait for the Rapture. I heard it is going to take place pretty soon; and then I’ll get saved. That way I can be sure that there really is a God. And for now I can still do what I want.
Is this, or something very much like this, the thought of many unredeemed people? I have talked to people who leave me with the impression that this is what they are planning on doing.
Why Not
There are several reasons why this is not a good idea (not to mention the simple fact of entering into His rest makes life better, right now).
There are three teachings which I have heard concerning the Rapture.
One teaching is that the Rapture will take place at the end of the Tribulation.
Another teaching is that the Rapture will take place approximately during the middle of the Tribulation.
The last Rapture scenario I have heard, (which is what I believe) is called Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
Whichever one of these are true, really makes little difference as concerns the individual who wants to wait, because regardless of when the Rapture takes place, the World will still go through a seven year tribulation.
If the Rapture takes place before the tribulation (which I believe it will), it will be difficult to believe, even after it happens.
For one thing there will undoubtedly be people who did not go in the Rapture that many people will have thought would have gone. They will very likely be seen on the news and other TV shows, explaining away the rational of the Rapture having already taken place. And there reasoning will in all probability seem quite logical.
Financial reasons I believe will become an issue also. For those who are willing to take the mark of the beast (even though it will not be called such by the world in general), I believe it’s possible that their financial problems may be easily taken care of, at least for a while. Those who will not take the mark will undoubtedly have serious financial difficulties which are impossible to deal with. Without taking the mark, people will not be allowed to buy, sell, or very likely even hold down a job.
There will also be presented to those who are left behind, logical, reasonable, and perhaps even what will seem like good moral reasons for taking the mark.
If one likes to eat, drink, enjoy our freedom, buy luxuries of sorts, go on nice vacations, own nice cars and houses, then one will have to take the mark.
The Government will tell people that taking the mark is the only way they can keep order and protect us from terrorists. If a person is unwilling to take the mark, they will say, “you are obviously up to something bad,” which needs to be a concern for the rest of the people in the country. For this reason people who will not take the mark will be branded as suspects of treasonous or terrorist activities.
Even the people who were thought of as friends will not trust someone who does not take the mark because they will believe the government, which for a short period of time will likely bend over backwards in order to make life easier for those who do take the mark.
One more thing to think about. Even if the person who is waiting for the Rapture to take place, before trusting in Christ (such a scenario would be laughable if it wasn’t direly serious) , actually has the strength of will to deny the mark and stand up for Christ in the midst of all that is telling him he is crazy. Even if an individual can do this, he will find himself living a miserable existence. Why wait, just so one can live that life of misery and very likely be called to give his very life for his faith.
CONCLUSION
Trust in what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us at the Cross right now, and receive the more abundant life which Christ has promised us.
Enter into Gods rest by believing and trusting in the Redemption which has already been purchased for us.
