Signs in the heavens?!

It was in the very early hours of Tuesday that my wife and I were travelling back home`from Meigneux, south-east of Paris. We had stayed there with friends on Sunday night but, when leaving on Monday morning, I had a "senior moment" and left both my laptop and my "banana pouch" behind! This was only discovered some three hours, and 175 miles later when we stopped for lunch! Thankfully, my dear wife had her purse (my wallet was in the pouch!), so we ate before returning to Meigneux - and then starting our journey all over again! 

Just south of Périgueux, I noticed the first flash of sheet lightning. However, there was no sound of thunder, and no rain. Perhaps I had made a mistake (it has been known to happen!!). We travelled on and, gradually, we saw more sheet lightning, and even forked lightning. As the sky was also cloudy, the effect was strange and, as the flashes became more frequent - with, still, neither thunder nor rain, some words of the prophet Joel, quoted by Peter in his sermon on the first Day of Pentecost, came to mind: "And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day." (Acts 2:19-20; emphasis added). I should mention that the thunder and rain, and very strong winds, did arrive long before we reached home!

Now, the "day of the Lord" to which the prophet was referring, is the day of judgement that the Bible assures us is coming. However, although there are some who would disagree, many believe that, before that Day there will be a period of tribulation, but that it will be preceded by what is generally referred to as "the Rapture". I devote a full chapter in my first book (Great Words of the Faith) to the subject, but wish to share the "bare bones" with you in this, and the next (and maybe the one after that!) post.

For this post, let us deal, simply, with what the rapture is. It is, I believe, that event that will take place “… in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (I Cor.15:52).  It is that event at which “… the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thess.4:16-17; emphasis added). 

Those words of Paul to the Thessalonian believers were in answer to something that was troubling them.  They were looking forward to the return of the Lord Jesus, as had been promised (see Acts 1:10-11).  But they were concerned about their believing friends who had already experienced physical death.  Paul was able to assure them that, at the Rapture, the bodies of those who had died before, and whose spirits had already passed “through the veil” (see ch.25), would rise to join with believers who were still physically alive, and that they would all meet with the Lord together – “in the air” (the realm in which the satan thinks that he has the power: Eph.2:2).

So, what do Paul’s words tell us about the Rapture?  He refers, first of all, to the departure we shall make. “… first the Christian dead will rise; then we who are left alive shall join them, caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (I Thess.4:17; NEB). We will leave this earth, with all of its sin and evil; its pain and heartache; its downright rottenness; its satanic influence on all that is good and true. 

We may note the certainty of this departure.  In I Thess.4:15, Paul says “Here we have a definite message from the Lord “ (Phillips).   No theory; no speculation; no hypothesis that Paul has formed by himself; but a definite “message from the Lord” and, as such, an absolute certainty – something of which we may be completely assured.

We may also be assured that it will be sudden.  In I Cor.15:52 we are told that it will be “… in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, …”  It won’t be a long, drawn-out, process.  It will happen (as the late Tommy Cooper might have put it!) “just like that”!

The word translated “caught up” in I Thess.4:17, is from the Greek root harpazo.  This has the idea of being snatched up.  William Hendriksen has this to say: “The suddenness, the swiftness, and the divine power which is operative in this being snatched up are here emphasised.  The survivors [saints] have been changed ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’ (I Cor.15:52)”.

The departure we shall make – certain, and sudden.  However, we must also consider the destination we shall have - but that will be for next time!

Promises, promises, promises!

Having arrived back in Wishaw late last evening, I was able to listen to the 'Today' programme, on the radio, this morning.   There was an interview with the leader of the Conservative Party, Mr David Cameron (I confess that I am not always as polite as that when referring to him!).  It was, as one might expect in the run-up to a General Election, all about what the Coalition Government had achieved, and what the Conservatives would achieve in the next Parliament, if they were given an absolute majority.

There was, for me, a problem.  All that I can see that the Coalition Government achieved - with the support of almost all of the other Parties in Westminster - was the redefinition of marriage (in spite of the overwhelming opposition to it throughout the country); an increase in the numbers of immigrants (illegal, and legal); an increase in the national deficit; and the run-down of the military.   In fact, I cannot think of anything positive that was achieved by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government in their five years of office.

However, the next five years will be different, Mr Cameron assured listeners.  He made one promise after another - on job creation; on housing; and, of course, on the deficit!  He is not alone.  All of the political parties that made up the last parliament are making their promises - promises that, in my experience, are forgotten no more than thirty seconds after they gain power!

This time, however, there is a genuine "new kid on the block".  I refer to UKIP (the United Kingdom Independence Party).   Obviously, I have no way of ensuring that, given even the balance of power in a 'hung' parliament, they would produce the goods any more than the current parties.  It's just that they have about them what J.B.Phillips might refer to as "the ring of truth"!   I look at Nigel Farage; I listen to his words; and I have that gut-feeling that this is a man who is not out to produce carefully-crafted (by 'spin doctors'!) sound-bites, but who actually means what he says!  That, I would suggest, is refreshingly original in modern British politics!   Disciples of Jesus often ask about which political party best represents Christian values.  I am no expert in the field, but I would say that UKIP is streets ahead of the others at this time.  When Mr Farage, or any of the other UKIP spokesmen/women make a promise, I actually believe them!  As far as the others are concerned, I see only attempts to convince the gullible to continue to support them!

The Bible, too, is full of promises/prophecies.  Indeed, someone has counted more than 3,500 of them!  Many of these have already been kept (fulfilled).  For example, the prophet Isaiah informs us that the Messiah would be conceived and born of a virgin (Is.7:14).  Of course, some non-Christian scholars have challenged this interpretation. They say that the Hebrew word 'almah', which is the word that English-language Bibles often translate as 'virgin', actually means no more than 'young maiden' or 'young woman'. It should be noted, however, that the Old Testament uses the word to refer to young, unmarried women, and that unmarried women were, culturally and religiously, expected to be virgins.  It should also be noted that the Jewish scholars who translated the Hebrew writings into the Greek language (the Septuagint), used the Greek word 'parthenos' - which can only mean 'virgin'!    A later prophet,Micah, also revealed that Messiah would be born in the relatively insignificant town of Bethlehem (Mic.5:1-2).

In this Holy Week, as we anticipate the special remembrance of the crucifixion, and the resurrection, of the Lord Jesus, we may be encouraged by the fact that those events, too, were prophesied.  Read Isaiah 53 - it foretells the suffering of Messiah, and even His death by crucifixion - some 700 years before the event! Jesus, Himself, assured His first disciples that, although He would be killed, He would rise again from the dead (Mk.9:31).   In Acts 1:8, the coming of God the Holy Spirit is promised - a promise that was fulfilled on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era.

There are also promises that have yet to be fulfilled.  After Jesus had been taken from the disciples, Dr Luke records that "... while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven'." (Acts 1:10-11).   As one studies the signs that, we are assured, will precede and accompany that momentous event, we may easily come to the conclusion that His return is imminent.  The promise will be kept, of that we need have no doubt.  Politicians may easily, and thoughtlessly, make and break their promises.  But the Word of God is settled and sure, and He is faithful!

So, however you decide to vote on May 7th (if you are eligible to do so!), be sure that you have cast your personal vote for Jesus - by confessing your sinfulness, and sins; by repenting of those sins; by accepting the salvation that He won for you, at Calvary; and by telling others of His great sacrifice, made for each one of us.  He has promised that, if you do, then He will stand beside you before the Father - the only Advocate you need; the only Advocate there is!  

And He keeps all of His promises!