Why We Should Look Up

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

There’s a lot of talk of prophecy fulfillment these days. In fact, in my opinion, there’s probably a bit too much because the most anyone can do is say something like, “Things appear to be moving fast toward this, that or the other thing.” But in reality, no one can state anything for certain until after a biblically prophesied event actually occurs. Until that point, everyone is simply offering an opinion.

However, I’m not opposed to talking about prophetic events that are yet to happen and there’s a big reason for that. The Bible is filled with reasons why learning about and discussing prophesy are important for Christians to be doing. Space won’t permit all the reasons, but the largest or overriding reason to delve into prophetic discourse is due to the fact that it causes believers to look up, to think of the physical return of Jesus, whenever that might be.

There are all types of ongoing arguments regarding the timing of the Rapture or even if the Rapture is taught in Scripture, with vehemence on all sides of the issues. It’s unbecoming of Christians who should be more interested in submitting themselves to our Lord in the fulfillment of His will and keeping unity of the faith.

I don’t have so much of an issue with those Christians who differ from me on the timing of the Rapture (and I tend to favor PreTribulation Rapture view). My issue is with those who tend to not see the Rapture in the Bible and/or tend to throw away prophetic events through their use of allegorization. I have a deep frustration with those who literally end up removing prophetic events from the future because of their particular perspective, preferring to simply normalize everything as natural events or believing that the Scripture means something other than it tends to imply. If they are wrong, they are ultimately guilty of changing the meaning of Scripture.

One interesting example of this is found in Revelation 3:10, which states, “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.” Most conservative Bible scholars believe this is referencing the coming Tribulation (“the hour of trial”) and the Church’s removal prior to that seven year period (Rapture). Since Jesus told John it will come upon the whole world, it seems clear enough that He actually meant it would come upon the whole world, which must mean the future Tribulation. If so, even though He is speaking to the Church at Philadelphia in the text, that church stands in for the entire Church, just as the other individual churches also stand in for the entire church, but in a different capacity.

Dr. Thomas Constable makes some interesting points regarding the phrasing of the original Greek in this section.

(Jesus) promised to keep them from the hour of testing. The combination of the verb and the preposition in Greek in this verse clearly means that He would keep them out of it (the pretribulation position). It does not mean He would preserve them through it (the posttribuation position) or remove them during it (the midtribulation position).

Constable goes onto say that this applies to all Christians, even those who do not keep the word of Christ’s perseverance. All Christians are to be delivered from the outpouring of God’s coming wrath during the Tribulation period. Constable continues…

Furthermore, it is not just the testing God promised to deliver them from but the “hour” of testing, the time in history during which these trials will come (cf. John 12:27). The Greek word translated “testing” (peirasai) means to test to demonstrate the quality of a thing, not to purify its quality. This hour of testing will involve the “whole world” (Greek oikoymenes, the inhabited earth), not just a local area. It’s purpose is to demonstrate the quality of those who “dwell upon the earth.” This term refers to earth-dwellers as contrasted with heaven-dwellers, the unsaved as contrasted with Christians…this is applicable to all Christians.

What is interesting to me is how some Christians totally gloss over this to say that Jesus means simply that He will be with us in this world during the times when we experience various tribulation. You can only get there if you choose to ignore other aspects of the text.

I think the evidence for a PreTrib Rapture is available for anyone who searches the Scriptures and looks at several things. First, as pointed out by Pastor Michael Grant (Testing the Spirits), there are the sections of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 5:1-11.[1] In chapter 4, Paul appears to be talking about the Rapture. Paul then in chapter 5, discusses the Tribulation, which happens after the Rapture. It’s a logical progression in the apostle’s mind. Read the verses yourself and recall that in his original letter to the Thessalonians, there were no numbered verses or chapters. It was simply one long letter, which makes the progression very logical.

Second, in Revelation 19, we see a celebration occurring where we note that 24 elders and a multitude of believers have surrounded the throne in praise and worship. What follows this in Revelation 20 is the description of the Millennial Kingdom over which Jesus rules. This also represents a pre or before period of time prior to the start of the Millennial Kingdom. In both instances, something happens first and then it is followed by something else. First there is the Rapture, followed by the Tribulation. Then later there is the Rapture, which is shown after the fact in Revelation 19 and is followed by the Lamb’s Kingdom. Many theologians believe that it is possible that the Rapture is implied in Revelation 4, when John (who would represent the Church), was called up to heaven and God’s throne room. It is also possible this is not the Rapture but simply John being called up to heaven to get a better vantage point for what God was going to reveal to him.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul discusses what he calls the “mystery” of the Rapture, something that had never been disclosed before. God chose Paul to relay that information. No previous person used by God was ever given any insight into what is referred to as the Rapture (Latin meaning a catching away).

In Matthew 24, the topic there is not the Rapture, but the Lord’s second coming, even though some theologians try to work the Rapture into that situation.

Beyond this, the argument regarding “imminency” goes on and on and on and on with no end in sight. Yet, Paul clearly believed the Lord could return at any moment. He also seems to include himself in the “we” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Some believe that he used the royal we. Yet, the Bible teaches that an imminent return of Jesus is something that will occur (1 Peter 4:7; Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 1:1, etc.). Of course, people view the meanings of these verses differently depending upon their own particular slant. But is our goal to ascertain God’s meaning or simply what makes sense to us?

But let me put all this aside, because there is something very important that I think many believers may be missing. What is wrong with continuing to look up, to believe that He could return this minute or the next? I suppose someone could argue that a person who does that is too heavenly minded to be any earthly good because all they’re doing is thinking about heaven. Yeah, there’s that, but I contend that a right belief concerning my possible soon entrance into the heavenly realms where I will see my Savior, my Lord and my God, Jesus, can have a tremendous impact on my life now for the better!

Forget the Rapture for a moment; all of it. Push it off completely to the side and ask yourself this question, “Do you know when you will die?” I’m guessing, like me, you do not. In fact, maybe like me, you might often tend to think you will live to be such and such an age because of all the things you plan on doing before you die.

Not to be morbid, but what if your death is actually slated to occur later today or tomorrow? You’re not planning on that, are you? Yet, if you’re a Christian, you would be immediately in God’s Presence at the point of death. Isn’t that what we are to long for?

So, what if you lived every day as though it might be your last day on earth? Would you change anything? Would you live with an expectancy of seeing in person the very GodMan who gave His life for you that you might gain salvation? Would your outlook be affected here and now? Would you be more forgiving, more loving, more submissive to Him and more willing to live in a way that brought glory to God in all that you do, think and say?

We all know that our death is in our future (though we might not often consider it), but none of us know when and too many of us believe it’s still a ways away. Is it? Prove it.

Would it be true to say that our deaths are “imminent” (could happen at any moment)? I believe so because I have absolutely no idea how many more days the Lord has given me in this life. None whatsoever. Neither do you.

If I truly understand the temporary nature of this life, I will have to admit that my life will end at some point. Even if I “fight” against it by eating as healthy as I can, exercising to improve my health to the max and doing everything I can to build my body up so that it “lasts” longer, it will still not go one moment beyond the day and hour the Lord has set for my death.

I’m not sure how anyone can disagree with it. It is fact and it is indisputable, in my opinion, but please prove me wrong.

Based on this, I am left with one of two approaches to life. I can either learn to cower in fear because death is going to take me into eternity at some point, so I’ll stay inside and essentially hide thinking there’s a better chance of avoiding an “early” death. This is reminiscent of the man who buried the talents that his master gave him out of fear (Matthew 25:14-30). He was reprimanded by his master because he made the wrong choice.

The other option is to go through whatever days/years I have left (and again, I don’t know), with the knowledge that God has set my date/day/hour of death, which is unchangeable (except for King Hezekiah, though he may have wished to be taken at the original day when he saw what was coming). In that case, I should be free to look up to the heavens and God’s throne every day, knowing full well that my end is coming and when I stand before Him, the last thing I want is to be ashamed at His coming (or my going to Him, 1 John 2:28).

It is humorous to me that people argue about the Rapture – it’ll be before the Tribulation (or other aspects of end times doctrine). No, it’ll be during that time! No way, it happens at the end! all the while thinking that they may have at least seven years to live once the Tribulation starts. It’s foolishness really because none of us know the day or the hour of His return nor do we know the day or hour of our going home to Him (in death or the Rapture)! Again, please prove me wrong.

If I develop a proper approach because of not knowing the date/day/hour of my death, it should cause me to look up, to have Him as the foremost important thought in my head. The Rapture can do this as well if a PreTrib Rapture position is embraced. But aside from the Rapture and even His second physical coming to this world, we all face the certainty of our physical death, which could easily occur before the Rapture and even before His physical second coming and will usher into His Presence immediately (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Looking up is the duty of every believer, to keep us from getting so bound up in and distracted by this world’s offerings. Paul, as he realized his physical death was approaching, noted to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (ESV)

Paul is telling us that those who love the future appearing of our Lord will be given a crown of righteousness! Do you long for His return? Do you long to see Him if your death occurs before He physically returns?

To Paul, Christians are compared with soldiers (and athletes) in 2 Timothy.

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

The point is that soldiers are more concerned with things of war and pleasing their commanding officer; getting that job done. Civilian pursuits are not the concern. Same with athletes, who train to win. In both cases, soldiers and athletes keep their eye on the prize and are not sidetracked by things outside their purview. This gives them a sound mind focused on one thing; completing the course and winning.

Is that us as well? Or are we too often distracted by the things of this world (including arguments over aspects of end times)? The more we focus on spending eternity with Jesus, the more the desire to be with Him grows within us and guides us, helping us to see the difference between what is truly important in this life and what we should not be concerned with. Satan wants us wrapped in the cares of this world. Jesus wants us freed from them so that a strong desire to be with Him takes root within us.

This earnest desire to see our Lord, to hear His voice, to see the love He has for us in His eyes, to be allowed to bow before Him and even to kiss His nail scarred feet – all of this and more should motivate us to look up and keep looking up!

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY2sB6k3eeo&t=826s

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective