WHERE DID ALL THE CHRISTIANS GO- LEFT BEHIND: AN END-TIME EVENT
Where did all the Christians go?
Nobody left behind seems to know!
Did aliens take them to their home?
Or are they trapped in the Twilight Zone?
Were they whisked away by a master race?
Or maybe they’re just Lost in Space?
So where did all these Christians go?
I really just wanna know!
I believe this is one of the most important messages that I have ever preached. I believe that we are living in the End-Times. I am not setting dates. I do not know the hour or the day; but I do know that it is close. When I was a new Christian; I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior on June 12th, 1976; we all thought that we the Rapture of the church would take place by 1980. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Then a guy wrote a book called “88 reasons why the Lord will come back in 1988. Then when that didn’t happen he wrote a book called 89 reasons why the Lord will come back in 1989 and some people still bought that one. You can’t know the exact dates and times but the seasons you can know. The Bible gives us specific signs to look for to know that it is close. These signs are everywhere now!
And let me say this, I will not be able to cover things in detail. I am not going to try to distinguish if it’s the Rapture of the Church or the 2nd Coming. These are two separate events.
This can be hard to keep straight and many who are have studied it in detail disagree. My goal is to give you an overview; to remind and warn you; as well as encourage you.
Why are all these things happening: The things that are happening now I couldn’t have imagined 20 years ago-that was Pre-Columbine/Pre-911. The lawlessness. If I don’t like your Christians Conservative values, and you are a public speaker; I will just go to the University you are speaking at and with stir up things so you can’t speak or sit in the auditorium and talk over the top of you. This is happening and what happened to free speech.
Hurricanes on top of hurricanes. Wildfires raging out of control. Massive Earthquakes. I know some will say we have always had natural disasters and that is true. But the frequency and severity when you combine them all to be at a fever pitch. I was listening to an Audio Book by Hal Lindsey. Many of you will remember him from the bestselling book “The Late Great Planet Earth.” In this book, he was quoting statistics over approximately ten years (approximately 1985-1995) and the increase then in tornadoes was about 50 % and that was 20 years ago. I believe just by simple observation that it has gotten much worse.
Even if you disagree about the increase in bad weather and natural disasters. The thing that I don’t believe anyone would argue against is the increase in violence. Violent religious movements like Isis and other groups as well as individuals too. This is something that has taken hold quickly and by storm. The killing of police officers. School Shootings. Recently, a man shooting concert goers in Las Vegas. Killing dozens and wounding hundreds. And the reason for him doing this; there appears to be none unless it was just to be infamous.
So, what is responsible for these things? Are these earthquakes and storms and natural disasters caused by God? Is he mad at us? Let me answer that: NO. God sent his son to save us during this time with his covenant and dispensation of grace. I don’t believe that is what is happening. Nature is out of control. Demonic Powers are at work.
When mankind fell in the Garden of Eden: man was affected negatively; and so was the animal kingdom and nature itself. The Bible calls such things labor pains. Before a woman can have a baby, she has labor pains. Before the end can come nature and mankind will have labor pains. Let’s read about it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-12) (ESV)
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
Let’s continue and look at Matthew 24:3-44) (ESV)
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.
5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
(Like Adolph Hitler)
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
(example of rumors of wars=North Korea)
See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death,
(Martyrs=This will blow your mind) Statistics say that about 90,000 Christians were martyred for their faith in 2016. Approximately 1 million in the last decade. We just don’t see it in America. We are blind to these facts.)
and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
(Killing of innocent people by religious groups like Isis and some for no apparent reason/killing of police officers/killing of the unborn-59 million since 1973- which is the equivalent to 1 ½ times plus the population of Canada which is 36 million.)
13 but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
(This will be the worst time of war and killing that the world has ever known or ever know. People will be gripped by fear.)
22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect
(So, what we learn here is this: people will say “hey, I’ve heard that for years and nothing’s happened or is going to happen. I just don’t believe it. Everyday things will be going on. People getting married, etc. but look out if you are not ready.)
There will be certain events that the Bible points out that will take place. There will be a Rapture of the Church; there will be a 7-year tribulation; this will climax in the Battle of Armageddon-the bloodiest war ever fought-blood will run up to the horse’s bridle. There will be a thousand-year reign of Jesus on Earth called the Millennium; during the Millennium Satan and his demons will be bound up. They will be let loose for a short season for a final test to those who are on earth and some will follow him and be deceived; and then the Final Judgement takes place (the great White throne judgment for anyone who doesn’t know Jesus will have their day in court all will make excuses and all will go to hell.
Believers will stand before Jesus and will receive their rewards based on their works. Then Satan and his demons and all unbelievers will be cast into the Lake of Fire (some type of permanent hell)
The greatest debate has always been when will the rapture take place. That is when the Christians suddenly vanish from the earth. The song I song and the Title of my Message “Where did all the Christians go? Some say it will be pre-trib-before the tribulation starts (trib short for Tribulation-the Great Tribulation which is the 7-year period in which the Anti-Christ shows up and the Mark of the Beast is instituted 666. Some say mid-tribulation in the middle or during the tribulation Some say post-tribulation. They think the rapture and the 2nd Coming of Christ are the same thing. The second coming has to do with latter events=Battle of Armageddon and the Millennial Reign by Jesus on earth for 1000 years.
I think some people’s belief is based on personality type. What do I mean by this. For example, some who are into this kind of macho thought that “I think the church needs to be purified and the only way for this to happen is for it to go through part or all of the tribulation.” The only problem with that is what about those Christians who died before the Tribulation.
Now the 180 of that is this there are people who think just the opposite based on personality. “I just don’t think God would ever have me go through anything harder than I have already.” That’s wrong too.
Now, if you are basing your belief on study of the Word you have a right to your own conclusion. But please don’t do it based on personal feelings.
And while I am at it, let me address this. Some say nobody would take the mark of the beast. We know the technology exists. A company in Wisconsin is using this by implanting chips in their employees on a volunteer basis. They can use this technology for example on vending machines. This is happening now. Hey, think what would happened if millions of people disappear from the planet. It would be chaos. There would be looting and violence. To establish order, it’s easy to see a chip being inserted into people to establish whereabout. If you want medical care or food rations you must have this. It may be voluntary at first but that will just be to get people used to the idea.
As I have stated before, I believe that things have gotten much worse in the last twenty years and that has been multiplied many times in the last year or so. With bombings, mass shootings at Nightclubs; people being mowed down with vehicles. I wish I could be more optimistic but I don’t’ think it’s going to improve. I do believe that Donald Trump and Mike Pence, no matter what you think, are a gift from God to give our nation a reprieve and a chance to turn things back around. The flack-the opposition that they are getting is unparalleled in history. I was thinking about this recently and thought. I can’t remember a non-Fox news channel saying one good thing about them. Not one!
I believe God will take care of his own. If you are a believer, God will take care of you. You will not suffer his wrath. The Bible promises that. I believe that this can be the Christians finest hour. A time to trust God and share your faith with others.
Let me issue a warning here. Sometimes, when you talk about end-times things, some people really get into it as far as discussion but don’t let the urgency propel them to action.
This is a time to share our faith in love not sit on our butts and just talk. I know that is strong, but I am a former sit on your bumper person and know many others. I refuse to just sit by and watch people go to hell. It’s their choice but shouldn’t they at least have an informed choice. They’ll know we’re Christians by our love and how shall they hear unless someone goes and tells them-the Bible says.
I believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. God never allows his children to suffer his wrath that was promised in I Thessalonians 5:9. He delivered Moses before he drowned the Egyptians. He delivered Noah and his family before the flood. These types from the Old Testament show God’s pattern when dealing with judgment. He delivers his people first. He takes care of his own. The church disappears after Revelation chapter 3. So where did it go. I personally believe this is where the rapture takes place. Then the rest of the end-time events unfold after this. You can believe what you want but that is what I base my beliefs on.
So where did all the Christians go?
The Bible puts us in the know
The trumpet heard in believer’s ears
Signaled that our Lord was here
Meet him in the Clouds did we
Warp speed was too slow you see
Raptured in the twinkling of an eye
It's over now our cosmic goodbye
Forever in heaven our destiny
Forever in heaven our destiny
Someone once said this “he who has no hope for the future has no hold on today”
Life was filled with guns and war
And all of us got trampled on the floor
I wish we’d all been ready
The children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we’d all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The son has come and you've been left behind
A man and wife asleep in bed
She hears a noise and turns her head he's gone
I wish we’d all been ready
Two men walking up a hill
One disappears and ones left standing still
I wish we’d all been ready
The father spoke, the demons dined
How could you have been so blind?
I hope we’ll all be ready
You've been left behind [Repeat: x3]
This is Song some of you know is by Larry Norman
Can I do anything to be prepared?
Yes, there is: Let’s read from Matthew 25; remember these are the verses that follow our opening scriptures about the end times. This is a remedy. This tells us how we can be ready!
(Matthew 25:1-13) (ESV)
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
PRAYER TIME:
The only way to be prepared is to be like the five wise virgins- to know Jesus You must accept Jesus (not just out of fear-but to really know him to let him guide you and take care of you.
If you are a Christian but have been half-asleep-not totally committed to Jesus and telling others but it’s all about you then I want to challenge you to make a total commitment to him-To know him better and tell others-It will be a little scary but so exciting and rewarding; you’ll never regret it.
The Bible says today is the day of salvation! So, are you Ready?
You must choose. No one is forcing you. God will respect your free will. But how you choose will affect your eternal destiny and, I believe your ability to be at peace during these coming difficult times here on earth. God loves you. He sent his son for you.
If you have never accepted Jesus and want to: please pray this:
Jesus forgive me of all my sins,
I invite you into my heart to be my Lord and Savior
Help me to know you
Help me to tell others about you
Thank you for coming into my life. Amen!
If you are a Christian, that as I described before as being half-asleep. It’s been all about you, but this message got through and you want to full commit yourself then pray this:
Jesus,
I am sorry for taking your grace for granted
And making it all about me
I want to make it all about you from this day forth
Help me to know you better
Help me to tell others about you
Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.