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At the of end of last year, a fictional movie hit the Big Screen that may not be fictional at all. Based on the NY Times Bestseller series entitled “Left Behind”, the movie version shares this title. The plot revolves around the events leading up to and following the Rapture. The what?
Many Christians worldwide, including many members of our church, believe in this future event when every true Christian all around the globe is snatched away, in an instant from this life on earth and immediately transported into Heaven, bypassing the universal experience of physical Death.
The movie captures a snippet of the sheer terror for all who are left behind. Now I didn’t see the movie, but I’ve read the Bible. Planet earth will be victimized with cataclysmic chaos in the Rapture’s aftermath: Busses will fly off the freeway because no one’s behind the wheel. Patients with chest cavities split wide open will awake to discover the OR is vacant, except for them. An accused murderer will be sitting in a courtroom, the prosecution already having argued its strong case. But as the defense attorney approaches the bench to plead his client’s case, he vanishes. Not good for the accused.
The doctrine of the Rapture screams the message to “Be ready”. If it could occur at any moment, and one’s eternal fate is sealed at that instant, then we all best be ready! You certainly don’t want to be left behind.
The Bible records an event that foreshadowed this coming Rapture, but on a much smaller scale. Just one man was snatched up, bypassing death, the man by the name of Enoch. Come this Sunday to learn about his inspiring life as we continue our summer series entitled, “God’s Early Hall of Faith”.