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Have you ever asked yourself, "How do I know I am ready for the rapture? Or "Am I ready for the rapture?"
There are three requirements for you to be ready for the rapture:
1. You must be a Christian.
2. You must live your life in obedience to God’s will and be loyal to the faith of Christ until death. (This obedience doesn’t stop at our salvation experience).
3. You must live a Godly life of righteousness.
Missing any one of these will cause you to go through the Tribulation Period, if the Tribulation Period happens in your lifetime.
Let’s understand a couple of important terms.
What is the Rapture?
The rapture is Jesus taking His faithful church (faithful saints) into heaven before the Tribulation Period described as the door of escape John saw in the Book of Revelation chapter 4.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18:
15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The word "rapture" is taken from the two words used in the passage, "caught up."
This is further described when Jesus ascended into heaven in Acts 1.
Acts 1:7-11:
7. And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.''
9. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11. who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.''
So, when Jesus comes again, those who are alive and remain (in Christ), will ascend into heaven at the moment or rapture.
The rapture is so quick that it only takes 1/60th of a second to take place.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52:
51. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
52. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
A twinkling of an eye occurs in 1/60th of a second. So, if you aren't ready for the rapture before it takes place, you won't be ready when it takes place. You won't have time to make it right with Jesus at that moment. The moment will come and go too quickly for you to get your life right with Jesus at that moment. So, good advice is, be ready before Jesus comes again so you will rise with Him in the clouds into heaven and escape the Tribulation Period.
What is the Tribulation Period?
The Tribulation Period is a seven-year period of time, described in Revelation chapters 5-19, when Satan will be cast to the earth and the antichrist will take over the world. At that time, the antichrist and a false prophet will cause everyone to take a mark on their hand or forehead except for those who refuse it. Refuse that mark! Anyone who takes that mark will be doomed to an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 14:9-11).
The Tribulation Period will be a time when Satan will war with the saints, possibly himself and through the antichrist and false prophet together. Those who give their lives to Jesus Christ in salvation will die for the cause of Christ during this time. (Revelation 13:15).
Who goes up in the Rapture?
Many people are taught that if you accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you automatically go up in the rapture no matter how you live your Christian life after that salvation experience. I find that doctrine to be very contrary to the teachings of Jesus.
The security of the believer, in the Scriptures, is always taught in light of saints being faithfully following Christ in obedience. This matches what Jesus taught as well.
In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke of this very subject as it related to the rapture of the saints into heaven at the end of the age. The disciples had asked Jesus when He would return at the end of the age, (which is a reference to the rapture of the saints into heaven and the following tribulation period) seen in verse 3.
Matthew 24:3:
3. Now 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?''
Jesus gave His disciples many signs of His coming in verses 5-31. But I want to concentrate on verses 36-51 to show Jesus’ teaching on the rapture specifically.
Matthew 24:36-51:
36. "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37. "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38. "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39. "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40. "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41. "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43. "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
45. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46. "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47. "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
48. "But if that evil servant says in his heart, `My master is delaying his coming,'
49. "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50. "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51. "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
First, lets establish the fact here that in verses 36-42, it is very clear that this whole passage is speaking about Jesus’ return at the time of rapture to take faithful saints into heaven.
In verses 45-51, Jesus speaks about who will go up in rapture and who won’t. Notice that there are two servants spoken of in the passage. One servant is faithful in doing what Jesus asks him to do and the second servant was disobedient to what Jesus asked him to do. Jesus is the master, in this story, who is away on a far journey and the servants are Jesus’ saints waiting on His return in rapture.
Secondly, notice that both men are servants of the master. This specifically says that the two servants are Christians. The master clearly is Jesus and they clearly are servants of Jesus.
Many people try to explain these verses as meaning one servant is saved and the other is not. This cannot be the case because Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters,” (Matthew 6:24) and here there is only one master who is Jesus.
The only difference between the two servants of Jesus, in this passage, is that one is faithful to Jesus and one is not faithful to Jesus while Jesus waits to return from His journey. This journey Jesus is on is He is waiting in heaven to return to earth to take His faithful saints to heaven.
The coming of the Lord in rapture of His saints is described in verses 36-42 and how the rapture will take place is described in the phrase… “one will be taken and the other left.” Faithful saints will be instantly taken to heaven, wherever they are, whether they are sleeping or working. Unfaithful servants and the ungodly will be left behind to endure the Tribulation Period, which lasts for seven years.
Let’s look, again, at the Scriptures and see the specific parts about the two different servants and their destinations. Here is the first servant who is faithful to Jesus while He was away.
Matthew 24:45-47:
45. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
46. "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
47. "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
Here Jesus describes the fate of the faithful servant as being given the blessing to become a ruler over all of Jesus’ goods. This is stating that the faithful servant will become a ruler in Jesus’ coming kingdom.
Now, let’s look at the fate of the unfaithful servant.
Matthew 48-51:
48. "But if that evil servant says in his heart, `My master is delaying his coming,'
49. "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50. "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51. "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Here the servant of Jesus who is unfaithful will not know when Jesus will come again and will not expect Him to come yet. So, the unfaithful servant may be harsh to others or become worldly and act like the world in becoming drunkards and carousing in worldly acts.
This servant, when Jesus comes, will suffer the fate of the ungodly, as it states, I will “appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.” The unfaithful servant will join the ungodly in their fate. In this case of going to the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth is literally the lake of fire for eternity. In the case of missing the rapture, this unfaithful servant would go through the Tribulation Period along with the ungodly.
This is further backed up in the verses in Revelation chapter 3.
Revelation 3:10:
10. "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Here Jesus stated that the faithful saints who kept His commandments to persevere (not just to be saved and then live like you want to) will escape the Tribulation Period… “I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” This is definitely speaking of the Tribulation Period, for no other time will there be a trial which will come upon the whole world such as the Tribulation Period, to test those who live on the earth.
The command to persevere speaks of how one lives their lives faithfully to Jesus during their lifetime, not just a one time salvation experience.
Let’s continue in Revelation chapter 3.
Revelation 3:1-3:
1. "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, `These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2. "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3. "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Notice that Jesus is speaking to His church saints and the thing they lack here is works, not salvation. In fact, they are punished because they were not watching for Jesus’ coming. Then Jesus came upon them like a thief and they did not know the hour Jesus came. This is speaking also of the rapture when Jesus will come like a thief and steal away faithful saints into heaven and steal away the door of escape from the Tribulation Period. Thus, these unfaithful saints not watching for Jesus’ return will have to endure the Tribulation Period along with the ungodly.
See also Revelation chapter 3 verses 15-19.
Revelation 3:15-19:
15. "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.
17. "Because you say, `I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
18. "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Here the saints were not working obeying Jesus and their only fault was that they were not following Christ in obedience in works. This, then, is not salvation. God always said He would have a people refined in the fire. This has always meant that faithful saints would go through trials that would refine them as pure gold is refined by fire. Unfaithful saints are not refined by trials as it deals with their faith and walking a Godly life. Secondly, these are naked. Nakedness in the Old Testament, when relating it to disobedience to God, as in Ezekiel chapter 16, these unfaithful saints’ works are ungodly and their nakedness (the revelation that their lives are ungodly and will be punished like the ungodly) will be revealed.
These saints living ungodly lives or doing no works for God are also blind. They don’t see that they are missing out on anything. One day, when Jesus comes again, He will open their eyes that they are living like the world and not obeying Him. Hopefully their blindness will be cured before He returns again. If it is not, they too will have to endure the Tribulation Period. This is specifically stated in Revelation chapter 2.
Revelation 2:20-23:
20. "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and beguile My servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
21. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23. "And I will kill her children with death. And all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Notice here that a woman named Jezebel is specifically called out and her teachings. The acts of Jezebel continue today through many organizations of the world. Jezebel worshipped Bel. The fate of those Christians part of false religions or unfaithful saints who continue the practice of Bel worship will be cast into the tribulation period as stated here in verse 22.
Jesus also said that, “all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.” Even so-called Christians will be cast into the Great Tribulation Period for living wicked lives. Jesus pointed these statements to saints, not the ungodly. All of the churches living unfaithfully or following the wrong leaders will all know when God punishes them in the Tribulation Period that they were unfaithful to Jesus. Thus, they will be punished along with the ungodly for their unfaithfulness.
If you find you are living wickedly, whether you are a Christian or have never been a Christian, there is a remedy to all of this. Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Repent of your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you for being lost without Him (if you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior) or ask Jesus to forgive you for being disobedient to Him in being part of false religions or simply living ungodly lives (if you are a Christian).
Jesus will forgive you and from this moment on you can live a Godly life dedicated to following Christ.
By being faithful to Jesus Christ, living Godly lives not stained by the pollution of the world as described in Jude.
Jude 1:22-25:
22. And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23. but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25. to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Another example of Jesus expecting saints to obey Him with our actions in life and the penalty for not doing so is being denied entrance into heaven, look at Matthew 7:21-23.
Matthew 7:21-23:
21. "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22. "Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23. "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
These were clearly Christians for you cannot cast out demons in Jesus’ name and be of Satan. The problem with them was that they lived lawlessly even though they were Christians and did not follow God’s will.
So, this tells us that Jesus expects Christians to live Godly lives and live in obedience to His will or He will deny knowing us even though we were Christians at one time.
What works do we need to do?
Whatever Jesus asks you to do. This is different for every believer to a point. Everyone should witness for Christ. Every believer should disciple other believers to a degree that they can or at least point them to a Godly minister who can shepherd them accurately from the Bible correct doctrine as taught by Jesus and the Apostles.
Let your light shine before the world so that they will know you are a Christian.
In summary, again, the three things you need to be ready for the rapture is:
1. You must be a Christian.
2. You must live your life in obedience to God’s will and be loyal to the faith of Christ until death.
3. You must live a Godly life of righteousness.
