In this episode, Frank King addresses what the world will be like leading up to the return of Christ and what Christians refer to as the rapture of the church. The rapture refers to the time when Christ will descend from heaven, though He will not physically touch earth, and all who are in Christ, both the dead and the living, will be gathered in the air to meet the Lord. Then shall they ever be with Him. Paul addresses this event in 1 Thess. 4:17.

Similarly, when Jesus returns, most people will be taken by surprise. Jesus says, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (verse 40). This event, the return of Christ and the rapture, will occur throughout the world at one time in history in the twinkling of an eye.

If Jesus returns at night while we sleep, those who are saved will be taken to meet Him, and those who are not saved will be left behind. For those aboard a plane at the time, if the pilot is a Christian, he will be taken, and those aboard who are not saved will be left behind. Jesus knows those who are His.  Not one person who is saved will be left behind at His return, and not one unsaved person will be mistakenly gathered to the Lord.

Nothing in our life should be more important than to be ready when Jesus returns. Ironically, that’s one of the subjects we seldom talk about in the local church. In some churches, you can hear preaching weekly about prosperity and God’s desire to shower blessings upon you. Or you can hear about spiritual gifts and particularly the prophetic ministry. But how often do we hear messages on the return of the Lord and the need for us to live in readiness for Him?