Last week’s blog post answered a question posed at the end of the previous article. Today’s entry will follow the same tack by addressing the issue raised at the end of the post last Friday. We asked about the conditions before the Rapture. What will life be like for the majority of Christians at the time Jesus comes to take us out of the world? Will our lives be uneventful and routine or will we endure fierce opposition?
In this series, we’ve learned how the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Exodus show God protecting His people in times of judgment and trouble. Applied to the Rapture, this would mean we’ll escape the judgments poured out on this world.
This principle has biblical merit, but it’s not exhaustive. To get a well-rounded picture of the circumstances of the Rapture, we have to consider other passages. Jesus warned us about suffering for Him, but He promised us victory in those experiences, too.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Divine power more than matches real difficulties! Jesus acknowledges our trials but offers us a share in His triumph.
If we remain loyal to Him.
The world will try its best to knock off course; the enemy will tempt us to follow the flesh. Times like these reveal the depth of our commitment to Jesus. This doesn’t take the Lord by surprise; He knows it’s coming and He wants us to be ready.
Here are Peter’s thoughts on this subject.
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ 19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” – 1 Peter 4:12-19
Trials are normal. At least they are for believers. And while suffering is unavoidable, the cause is somewhat up to us. If we’re criminals, we’ll get caught and punished. But what if we’re Christians? Is being a disciple of Jesus a crime? It depends. In some countries, faith in Christ is illegal. In the rest of the world, the law permits Christianity but the culture frowns on it. Many people pay a social price for following Jesus.
Peter reminds us to rejoice when we suffer for the Lord because it demonstrates our dedication which He will reward. God judges us worthy recipients of His blessings because we stuck with Jesus when it counted.
Since Peter wrote this letter in the first century, persecution has been around a long time. As we get closer to the Rapture, we have no reason to suspect the pressure to compromise will wane. If anything, I expect its intensity to pick up.
Because there’s a war going on and we’re in the middle of it. Whether we like it or not, whether we want to be there or no, spiritual battle is real. God uses suffering to test our character and to make us more like His Son. The world wants us to give up on Jesus and join the crowd. Or else! Yes, when we follow Jesus, we put a target on our back and the enemy will take shots at us. Feeling attacked, we’re actually being judged.
By the world.
And by God.
The judgments differ. The world criticizes us but the Lord evaluates us. The world seeks to undermine our faith in Christ; the Holy Spirit wants to fortify it.
So we have to recognize that we dwell in the midst of struggle. We recall the words of Jesus that He’s overcome the world and this comforts us. But we need comfort because we feel the pain of rejection and persecution. Loyalty to Jesus costs.
What will be the extent of persecution around the time of the Rapture? That’s next week’s post!
