Dear friends:

Do you pray for the rapture to happen?

Some time ago I realized that while I deeply longed for the Lord's return, I was not praying for it.  I knew that only He is the answer to all the world's problems.  Only He will be bring peace to the earth.  Only He will stop the crime, killings, terrorism, sickness, death, and all the other evils on the earth. 

One day I asked myself, "Bramlett, why aren't you praying for the rapture, which must precede other end-time events?"

My answer to myself was, "Duh.  I don't know, man, but I will start today."  I have been doing it ever since.

Daily I pray that God will rescue His people from this evil world and from the even worse evils to come.  I mention names that come to me, and intercede for them.

Do you pray for the rapture to happen?  If not, why not start today?  Maybe the Lord is waiting for His people, and you, to cry out to Him before He comes. 

Here is some Scriptural basis for such prayer:

1.  Jesus said, "Pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen...” (Luke 21:36, NIV).

2.  Paul prayed, "Maranatha" (KJV), or NIV "Come, O Lord" (1 Corinthians 16:22).

3.  John prayed, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

HINDRANCES TO DESIRING OR PRAYING FOR THE RAPTURE:

1.  A personal agenda or unfulfilled goals given priority over desiring the Lord's return.  Dump them.  Nothing is more important that the return to the earth of the Prince of Peace and the Desire of all nations (Haggai 2:7).

2.  Concern for unsaved loved ones.  A valid concern.  But give them to the Lord.  Your holding on may be what is blocking their coming to faith.  Remind the Lord of His promise to the Philippian jailor in Acts 16:31 and that He is no respecter of persons:  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”   Radically claim that promise for your family.  Love them unconditionally and pray for them daily.

3.  Belief that a great revival must come before the rapture.  A great outpouring of God's Spirit has already been going on for the past few decades.  See my 2001 article at http://choicesforliving.com/spirit/part4/revival.htm .  Billions have been confronted with the claims of Christ just in the past few years.  I believe it will greatly intensify after the rapture.  But one day, hopefully soon, the present age will suddenly be concluded and those in Christ will be evacuated so that the cup of evil can become full and God can bring history to its prophesied end.  Let us pray for that.

Maranatha,

Jim