Doug L (25 Mar 2018)
"Heaven is a guarantee
of Salvation - The Rapture is Not... it is an event."
The Rapture is not a guarantee for those who are saved but
Heaven is. Many who have been saved by grace through faith in
Christ Jesus during this Church Age are now in Heaven. The
Rapture is an event which takes place at the end of the Church
Age at which time Christ comes for His Bride. A bride as we know
it is the one who is chosen above all others and for specific
reasons. Not everyone at the wedding qualifies as The bride but
yet they will be in attendance. You and I choose only one person
as a bride and would not choose her if she were immature,
unfaithful, unwilling and Not Ready and neither would Jesus.
There are many saved in the Church today who are babies, living
sinful lives and unwilling to repent - they are not Ready for
The Groom's Return for them. Therefore, it will overtake them as
a thief in the night and they will suffer great loss. When we
are "Redeemed" by Christ we are made spotless and no sin can
condemn us any longer. However, we are to keep ourselves
unspotted from the world and repent continually from sins which
separate us from close "fellowship" with God -
"knowing" Him. (A term used for close intimate relationship
between a man and woman.)
So as Jesus looks for His Bride He is looking for those who are
"worthy" of Him - not babes, not unfaithful or lazy
servants but those who have chosen to follow Him and be
His disciples. Paul pressed on towards the High calling in
Christ Jesus and so should all of us. Jesus is the one who
chooses His Bride out from among the many who are the called.
It's His privilege and not to be assumed by anyone. Remember the
parable of the banquet and what happens to those who assume the
seat of honor next to Him. We who are His Body are all
accountable to Him for obedience and performance - read
Revelation 2,3. The Bride will be chosen out from the Body of
Christ just as Eve was taken out from the body of Adam. Jesus
being the second Adam. Those believers who are not ready for the
Rapture event - when the Bride is taken out will not loose their
salvation but will then be tested by the fires of Great
Tribulation "purified" and made ready to meet their Lord.
Teaching that encourages all who "saved" in the Church are the
Bride and will be raptured away guaranteed - ready or not.. is
harmful - because it does not clearly warn those who have left
their first love, the unrepentant, the lazy and unfaithful - to
get ready now, be filled with The Spirit and watch because we do
not know the day or the hour that he will come for any of us
whether by death or rapture. The Good is news is- all
those saved by Christ will enter Heaven and Christ will choose
His Bride and there is still time to Press On toward the "Mark"
of His "Highest" calling in Christ Jesus.