Jim
Bramlett's COMING JUDGEMENT is not the fictional
rantings of an old soldier. Nor is what I
write here by someone possessed with
delusions. I share both his age and
experiences over my almost 80 years of life.
I am sure that you, Jim, have always had it in
your mind that perhaps yours was the last
generation...the one to see the end. Same
here.
I remember an old
Eskimo lady I met one day about 20 years or more
ago. At that time, she was 112 and lived alone
in
her cabin in
Fairbanks, Alaska, still chopping her own firewood
even in the middle of winter. (I have seen it
-60 below zero there). She told me that when
she awoke every morning she went to her kitchen and
looked out
her window at the heavens, hoping to see Jesus
coming for her.
Of course she
passed away long ago, but I never forgot her almost
childlike awe and wonder as she told
this story of
looking every morning out that window and watching
for His appearing. It was her life.
Another time I
was in India, doing missionary work. I was
staying at a pastor's home. One of his
daughters was a very
spoiled young
lady who had her goals set....she wanted a college
education and a career. Enough of church
going!
One day I
had a chance to talk with her and I asked her, "Have
you ever heard of the Rapture?" "Yes", she
replied.
"Have you ever
thought about it...how that when does happen, there
will be old people, young people, and even children
that go, all at the same time; that there will
be a generation that doesn't live out their life on
this earth. They
don't experience
college, marriage, childbirth, or any of those
things--because He can come for us at any time."
"NO!" she almost
shouted at me. "He can't come for a long, long
time!". She was almost mad that I had pointed
that out to her.
"Well you could
be right, but the same Bible tells us that He
will be coming at a time "we think not", I replied.
So there we have
it--many people think God has to conform
to their ideas; how they think things
should happen and when. Just so He doesn't
interfere with our worldly plans.
Yes, we are to
'occupy' until He comes, but know that whatever
situation we are in when He does return, Jesus is
coming for a BRIDE that has made herself ready
for the grand wedding, and the desire and
anticipation of that bride toward her groom and
the groom to her. That is what I think
will literally "sweep you and
I off our feet!" (in Alaska or India or
wherever).
The dead in
Christ rise first, then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
What an awesome,
glorious thought! And I agree with you Jim,
and all you Doves who might be feeling goosebumps
right about now just thinking about it.
MARY E. ADAMS
"whatever
things were written before were written for our
learning, that we through the patience and comfort
of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4