When I was around four years old, my parents went away for the weekend, leaving me with my aunt, whom I adored and who also happened to be our neighbor. We vacationed at the beach and in the mountains in the years before and after this time, so we had done plenty as a family of three. In fact, this was probably their first time away from me, and I’m sure they needed that time to enjoy themselves as a couple. The only thing was, I was quite sure they would be back for me that first night or, at least, the next, and I was all prepared for them to come knocking at the door, ready to take me across the yard to our home.

When my aunt mentioned that it was time for bed, I told her I was going to wait for my mom and dad to come for me. She shared this news by phone and it just about broke my mom’s heart, causing her to tell my dad that they had to return home. And they did. I feel bad now, of course, that I caused their vacation to be cut short, but back then, I sat on the edge of the bed and waited because I just knew they’d come for me. And I couldn’t wait! I missed them and was ready to be home in my own bed.

I have been reminded of that story a lot lately as I find myself waiting again. Not for my parents this time but for Jesus. The Bible told of His first coming as a baby in Bethlehem. It also tells of His return for His church prior to the seven-year tribulation and then His second coming to earth to set up His millennial kingdom. Right now, I’m waiting for that first return…the rapture!

What Does the Bible Say About the Rapture?

Scripture offers several verses concerning the return of Jesus Christ:

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.   1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.   Revelation 3:10

What Did Jesus Say about the End of the Age?

In Matthew 24, the disciples ask Jesus, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”.  Jesus responded by first telling them to “watch out that no one deceives you.” He goes on to warn them about others claiming to be the Messiah. I’m sure He also meant deception in general. These days, we have to be ever more careful about what we determine to be real and truthful. Videos and pictures can be changed. Holograms can appear to be quite real. Artificial Intelligence is adding to the mix. There are so many ways for us to be deceived, but we must be especially careful when it comes to Biblical truth.

Jesus also said there would be wars and rumors of wars. That one pretty much speaks for itself.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. That too is easily seen both in various countries and also in people groups throughout the world, as the word “nation” comes from the word ethnos, which can mean Gentile Christians or tribes/nations/people groups.

There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. If you have an app that tells you about every earthquake recorded in a day, you could spend a great deal of time scrolling through all of them. As for famines, while we have not yet experienced anything that could be called a “famine” in the United States, we have seen farming and supply chain issues that could lead to food shortages in the near future, both in the U.S. and around the world. Jesus said all of this would be the beginning of birth pains. He later says that due to an increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. I’m not sure I have seen such coldness in my lifetime as I do now. There is so much in the news of people hurting each other, stealing, cheating, and other wickedness that takes place because people don’t care about others and even go out of their way to hurt them for absolutely no reason. Their hearts are cold.

Jesus goes on to talk about the antichrist and what will happen during the tribulation, but I will leave that for another time. Suffice it to say that as this world gets more bizarre and wicked, I find myself more and more eager for the Lord’s return, like that little girl waiting for Mom and Dad. Are you ready to meet Jesus if He returns today, or will you be left behind to face the horrors of the tribulation?  Now is the day of salvation. I am watching and waiting!