THE DANGER OF NOT BEING RAPTURE-READY
By Francis Fawkes, Th.D.
There is a lot of teaching on prosperity. Sure, Christians need a certain measure of prosperity to be more effective in Christian ministry. They would certainly be handicapped in carrying out the great commission if they were broke (Matthew 24:14). However, Ministers of the Gospel need to prioritize and give end–time prophecy its rightful due. God revealed to the Christian author David Wilkerson in his book, “The Vision,” that as Job was tempted by depravation and loss, so is the latter day Christian tempted by greed and wealth. It is rather unfortunate that eschatology or end-time prophecy has been eclipsed by prosperity teaching, and many Christians are not prepared for the next appearing of Jesus. Holiness, with which no man can see God’s face, has ceased to become an issue of importance (Hebrews 12: 14).
The Rapture is conspicuous by its absence in the pulpits today. Emphasis needs to be placed on the Rapture (Harpazo, Gk. – snatching away from danger). This is an extremely serious situation as the Rapture is synonymous with the first resurrection of the righteous dead (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17). The whole of Christianity revolves around the resurrection. St. Paul states: if Christ did not arise, then our faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
My concern stems from a dream the Lord revealed to me on the Rapture in the 1980’s. I found myself thousands of feet in the air. When I looked down I saw many people still on the ground. They exuded egotism and pride in their jobs. They were totally unaware that the Master Jesus had come and gone.
Confounded and mildly upset, I wondered what this meant. I had never experienced anything like that. I thought that all mouth- professing Christians go to Heaven. The Lord explained to me that not every Christian will be going up in the Rapture. He further stated that some believe that they are real Christians, but they are not. I had other dreams of the Rapture in which I saw the prepared go up in small groups! When you study the situation, it shows the Christian that he cannot use salvation by grace as a licence to sin (Hebrews 6: 4-7).
HOLINESS NOT MIRACLES IS THE KEY TO BEING THE RAPTURED
In Matthew 7: 21: “Jesus expressly states that not all that say Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Many think that speaking in tongues, prophesying and casting out devils will guarantee them a place in the Rapture or Heaven. But listen to the rest of the story. Jesus quotes in verse 22: “Many shall say in that day Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils?” In verse 23 he will say unto them: “I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity.” They could have made it if they had repented of their evil deeds.
With the search for guidance from the Holy Spirit, I continued to study other visions, dreams, near-death-experiences and outer-body-experiences of people around the world. In trying to distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit, I discovered something traumatic but possibly true. If a very small percentage of the world’s population are going to heaven where do the majority go? No need to answer the obvious. This is a revelation from Jesus to Minister Howard Pittman in his telling of a near-death-experience that he had in his book called “Placebo.”
Here are the most surprising revelations of men of God. When the Rapture comes only 10 percent of Christians will be taken up. There are many such similar reports. Furthermore, a large percentage of Ministers of the Gospel may not be raptured because they lack a pure heart or are not living holy lives. Many of them may fail because of sins of the heart and sins connected with their thought life. I believe that God has an incredible standard for Ministers of the Gospel – one of absolute, pure holiness! It is certainly higher than the general population at large. In Matthew 7:14 it is written: “… straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto eternal life, and few there be that find it.” It is incredible that “few” can mean few Christians as well. We have to put more emphasis on holiness and repentance.
HOLINESS - THE SOLUTION TO THE RAPTURE PROBLEM
Whatever happened to holiness? Has it been thrown out of the window? In Leviticus 11:45 it states: “I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be ye holy, because I am holy.” In Hebrews 12: 14: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” In an alarming revelation that was given to a very popular man of God, many men of God who were thought sure to be in heaven were not there – God knew their hearts. Others, who many thought would never make it to heaven, were seen in heaven. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).
There are revelations given by Ministers of God as to why God would have rejected them if they had not repented and met his standards. Howard Pittman thought that he was pleasing God in ministry. God revealed that his motives were selfish and that he was his own false God. He committed the sin of idolatry without repentance. If he remained in that state, he would not make it into heaven. He learnt that 2.5 percept of the world’s population were being saved at that moment. The other 97.5 percept perished.
Renowned Ugandan pastor John Mulinde despite a prospering ministry with healings and salvations was not ready because he had not repented of an abominable thought life.
Pastor John Ekechukwu of Nigeria was not ready because of unforgiveness in his heart towards his wife. He learnt that if he had not repented, he would have his part in the lake of fire. Many ministers have intense hatred and refuse to let go of certain things in their hearts towards others. Jesus said: “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive you your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 15). Forgiveness is the essence of salvation.
REPENTANCE IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE IGNORED
“Repent ye, therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). What habitual sins should the Minister of the Gospel and Christian repent of alike? Here are some of the sins all need to repent of. One can use Galatians 5: 19 as a complete guideline for spiritual purity and purity of the heart. However, I will name some of the more common lifestyle sins of both: Adultery, fornication, lustfulness, witchcraft, hatred, envyings, wrath and drunkenness. Repent of these sins if they become a matter of lifestyle. Those that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Slander, whether direct or by innuendo in everyday life and in the pulpit is a sin according to 1 Corinthians 6: 9. Such a person is called a “reviler” in the aforementioned passage. Those that make these sins a lifestyle shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
IS HELL FIRE REAL?
Jesus told a Christian that the fires of hell cannot be compared to the fires of earth – they are much hotter. There are some Christians who believe that the fires of hell are figurative, however in no sense of the word can it be unreal. Here is a passage too explicit to be figurative. “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where the worm dieth not and the fire quenches not” (Mark 9:47 -48). The Lord also told another person that the greatest punishment is not reserved for the pagan, but for the Christians that knew the word of God but still persisted in evil doing without repentance. Yes, the key is repentance.
THE ASTONISHNING DENIAL OF THE CHURCH
This passage of scripture Revelation 13: 16 - 18 is being fulfilled before in our times, but many ministers hardly make a comment on it: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich or poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the Beast…” In verse eighteen this number is 666.
It is astonishing, that 2 ½ million people have already accepted the microchip. This is the forerunner Mark of the Beast and the pulpits are silent! Mark of the Beast legislation is being fought successfully in several states of the United States. They are Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Wisconsin, North Dakota and California. The church continues to slumber in denial.
Does the Christian know that the cashless society is making progress at a frightening rate of about 90 percent in Europe and Asia? There are certain shops in Europe which reject liquid cash because purchases are only permissible electronically. In a few years’ time, they want everyone in India to have a number. The Bible indicates that buying and selling will be done according to a number system.
This chip is supposed to go on the back of the right hand or in forehead. That microchip carries the possibility of monitoring and controlling you for not only medical purposes but for economic and political purposes as well.
So, Christians - you have been warned. In Matthew Chapter 25, do not be like the five foolish virgins: prepare your lamps with oil. Do not be like the proverbial virgins today who say the Rapture promotes “an escape mentality” and fail to fill their lamps with oil. Listen to what the master Jesus had to say about this: “for there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world, to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). According to the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls, the judgements will wipe out billions of lives in a short space of time. Islands and mountains will be dislocated (Revelation 6 – 18). So preparation with an escape mentality is very well justified.
Friend, if you die today that is your Rapture. For it states in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17, the dead will be the first to arise to meet Christ in the air. They will be followed by those saved ones who will never see death.
I want to conclude by saying do not be afraid of the word “Rapture.” It really comes from the Latin Vulgate Bible, and it does not conflict with the original concept of “snatching away” in the original Greek text. Look and prepare with great expectation for the next appearing of Jesus the Christ for there is a special reward for them that desire his appearing (2 Timothy 2: 8).
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