Is This the Last Christmas Before the Rapture? Part 2

In the previous post in this two-part series, we saw how the Pre-Tribulation Rapture would affect one's life as a Christian. It is especially exciting to see how your life as a Christian should be (or already is) just in case the Rapture happens mid-tribulation.

Mid-Tribulation Rapture

Mid-Trib proponents believe that Jesus will enrapture the Church (every human who is born again) halfway through the 7-year tribulation. So we believers will be spared the second half of it - a.k.a. The Great Tribulation. So what happens if the Rapture happens mid-trib?

The Negatives:

1. Believers would have to face the first 3.5 years of turmoil despite being righteous in God's sight.
2. They would have to try hard to convince unbelievers that the Antichrist is a liar and deceiver. It might be tougher to witness than now.
3. Many believers might be deceived into taking the Mark of the Beast or worshipping the Antichrist in the temple at Jerusalem.
4. There could be more martyrs than we are seeing now.

The Positives:

1. We would get 3.5 years more to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, etc. and improve the chances of getting our loved ones and others into the Kingdom of God.
2. We would get a better chance to prove from the Bible to unbelievers that the Antichrist is really the Antichrist. Hopefully, many will believe the Bible and be saved from the end-time great deception.
3. If we have to be persecuted or get martyred, we will receive a greater reward in heaven [ I can sense your reaction to that one! Don't feel condemned :) ].

Post-Tribulation Rapture

Image courtesy: prewrathrapture.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/revelation0.gif

There are some people who believe that believers too will have to go through the Great Tribulation. If true, this might be the real test of how faithful can you be to God - will you succumb like Eve did to Satan in the Garden, or will you endure to the end and be an overcomer?

So, the conclusion to this series is that even if the Christmas of 2013 was not the last one before the Rapture, we ought to be ready. Let us be about our Father's business so that we are found approved in when the Lord Jesus exalts us. Let us be busy so that our whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.And how to ensure that? As you sow, you shall reap. So help others preserve their spirit, soul and body blameless and you should hear the Lord exclaim: Well done, my good and faithful servant!

How to Spiritually Capture a City: Download MP3

"Practice what you preach."

Here's a great teaching from John G. Lake Ministries, titled "How to Spiritually Capture a City."

Click the link below to download the teaching as an MP3 file:

http://www.inspiration-room.net/content/how-spiritually-capture-city

Curry Blake - General Overseer of JGLM says in that teaching that they have actually practiced what he teaches and it's worked. If it worked for them, it should surely work for any other church and for any born again child of God. 
Caution: Jesus sent disciples two-by-two. So I suggest you go out in groups to evangelize the way they recommend. And if there is hostility in the area you live or plan to evangelize, I suggest you speak to your pastor first, because the pastor is responsible for your spiritual well-being and life before God. If all is fine, then try it out and leave your comments here. If I do try out the method, I too will update. Till then, forever, God bless you and use you more mightily as a blessing, in Jesus' name. Amen!

Christian Persecuted: Have you ever been one?

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake." - Matthew 5:11

A couple of months ago, I had been to my native state of Gujarat, where I became - sort of - a Christian persecuted. I gave some gospel tracts to Hindus. Their response wasn't bad on my face. But when I came back to my hometown, I learned that there was a small verbal fight over the issue. I had given one tract to my relative's maid. First she asked for our pastor's phone number saying she wanted prayer. The next day though, her husband came and fought with my relatives. In fact, another relative of mine took my evangelism negatively and said that they could inform the police and get me arrested for trying to convert people's religion! A brother-in-Christ later advised me that on every tract, you should print words like "We are not trying to convert your religion. Jesus did not come to (start or) establish a religion. Whether to believe in this message or not is your decision."

Of course, Jesus says in the Bible that people would hate his followers. But what I found surprising was that this actually happens here in India even though we are a secular country. We aren't theocratic - Hindu like Nepal or Islamic like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia etc.

A missionary pastor later advised me to abstain from handing out gospel tracts in that state as people there think differently than people in my hometown. Missionary pastors really have it tough and often risk death when, ironically, they are really trying to set people free from the clutches of sin, sickness, death etc.

It would be interesting to learn if you have ever been a Christian persecuted for preaching the gospel (even soft persecution - like just handing out tracts or praying for people...). Share your experiences in the comments here. God bless you!

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33