dec2001


	*"IN THE SKY!"*


	*"Yes, that's where we're going to meet the Lord when He returns!"*


	It'll be a glorious roundup of the saints of all ages. With the salvation opportunity drawing to a close, that day is not too far off now. The DOOR WILL BE SHUT (Matt. 25:10). The Lord will assemble His entire family in the AIR in such a way that all on earth can see the event! You know the Scripture on that:


	"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them in the CLOUDS to meet the Lord IN THE AIR" (1 Thess. 4:16 and 17, emphasis mine).


	BUT WHY THE SKY?

Obviously the event could take place in heaven, but the Lord wants "every eye" to witness the event (Rev. 1:7). He intends for those left on earth to behold the sight and realize the DOOR OF SALVATION has been closed. But we have sky all around the globe, how can "every eye" see it? He explains that too. It will be like lightning flashing from East to West (Matt. 24:27). Men do this now with satellite TV. He will do it with OMNIPRESENCE.

Don't feel sorry for those left on the ground. They had plenty of opportunity to be part of the crowd in the sky and DIDN'T WANT IT. Now they'll strain their necks, staring at the SUPERNATURAL CHARACTER of the church they shunned.Don't feel sorry for those left on the ground. They had plenty of opportunity to be part of the crowd in the sky and DIDN'T WANT IT. Now they'll strain their necks, staring at the SUPERNATURAL CHARACTER of the church they shunned.

But there's a more important reason why it must be in the sky—the WRATH OF GOD is going to be poured out on all mankind at that time. And since the Bible makes it clear that Christians are "not children of wrath," they MUST BE OFF THE EARTH before God can do this (Eph. 2:3). The apostle Paul vigorously asserts..."God has not appointed us to wrath" (1 Thess. 5:9). And wise old John insists we are to be kept from "this hour of trial" (Rev. 3:10). Inasmuch as Jesus bore God's wrath FOR US at Calvary, it is unthinkable that a single Christian would be left on earth at that time.


	GOD IS REALLY ANGRY ABOUT THIS


		If I understand the Word correctly, only a FEW will be raptured out. The MANY who remain will be left to endure a horrible time on earth (see Matt.7:13, 14). This occurs at a time when God is fed up. It will be at an hour when EVIL ON THE EARTH reaches its climax and the stench of it stirs God's anger. The apostle John says God's wrath will be poured out..."WITHOUT MIXTURE INTO THE CUP OF HIS INDIGNATION" (Rev.14:10). He will be furious.

	When He sees Christians persecuted and martyred on a worldwide basis, all but eliminated from the earth, He'll yank His own out of the world and command the angels to pour out the SEVEN BOWLS of his wrath! (Rev. 15:7 - 16:21).

At the same time those on earth, beholding the sight in the sky, will realize they blundered in rejecting Jesus. But it will be too late. Besides, they STILL DON'T WANT HIM...for even then they will not cry out to Jesus. Instead, they'll cry to the mountains and the rocks to HIDE them *"from the wrath of the Lamb!"* (Rev. 6:16)

For God to get that upset, the earth has to be a foul mess. He is patient, as you know. Look what He put up with before He wiped out mankind at the time of the flood (Gen. 6:13). There's a limit to what God will take. We're fast approaching the day when the entire world will TURN AGAINST HIM and go so wholeheartedly after sin, they'll want a MAN OF SIN as their ruler.


	That's when God will say, "That's enough!"


	WHAT AN EVIL DAY!


	The apostle Paul insists two things must occur before God gets so furious He raptures His saints and pours out His wrath. You may know the passage by heart:


	"Brethren, with regard to the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ and our GATHERING TOGETHER unto Him (the rapture)...let no man DECEIVE YOU, for it (that day) WILL NOT COME unless the apostasy comes first and the MAN OF SIN is revealed!" (2 Thess. 2:1-3).


	See the two things?


	A great apostasy must occur. There will be a wholesale exodus from the faith. When it gets really rough to be a believer, multitudes of PROFESSING Christians will flee the church on a worldwide basis. Seeking to escape persecution, they'll plunge into the sinful ways of the world. You watch the news. You can see the trend, the moral decay:

-Drugs and divorce

-Rape and child abuse

-Pornography

-Homosexuality

-Exploding occultism

-Political corruption

-Movie and TV filth


	All this is just getting started. It won't climax until the second thing happens.


	The "Man of Sin" is revealed. Imagine a world so bent on evil, so hungry for sin, that it wants a MAN OF SIN to lead it. Paul says the world has to get THAT BAD before the Lord gathers us to Himself in the sky!

		WAIT A MINUTE BROTHER!

"If those two things MUST OCCUR before we meet the Lord in the sky, then the rapture CAN'T TAKE PLACE before things get really bad on earth. I know you're a fundamental Bible teacher, but it sounds like you're saying 'the church will go through the great tribulation.' You're a pre-tribulation rapturist, aren't you?"

"No."

"You mean you're a POST-TRIB RAPTURIST?'

"No, not exactly."

"Then what are you?"


	I'M A PRE-WRATH RAPTURIST


	Ever hear of that before? I'll define it. A pre-wrath rapturist says he doesn't know for sure just when the Lord will appear in the sky, but accepts the apostle Paul's words at face value, that day won't come until there is a huge exodus from the church and a MAN OF SIN appears in response to the world's clamor for such a man to lead it.


	The pre-wrath rapturist believes the rapture will occur AFTER the MAN OF SIN is revealed, but PRIOR to the pouring out of God's wrath on all mankind. It occurs with the Lord's appearance in the sky.


	SOME TRIBULATION SEEMS NECESSARY


	The pre-wrath rapturist believes the church will experience tribulation, but NOT the wrath of God. I'm convinced the church NEEDS TRIBULATION to make her ready for Jesus. The Bible says amazing things about suffering and tribulation...


	"For unto you it has been given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE" (Phil. 1:29). Or again..."We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

It's human to want to escape testings and trials, but God uses both to bring us to maturity. Where we find none of these, we do not see changed lives. A shallow Christianity is sweeping our land today, one that gives a greater priority to health and prosperity rather than getting ready to meet Jesus. Those who push the comfortable life shrink from the idea that God would condition His people with tribulation and suffering. But I don't shrink from declaring it.


	FORGET THE ESCAPE DOCTRINE


	All through history God has refined His people with suffering. It would be unfaithfulness on my part to try and please those who have *"no root in themselves, but are offended when tribulation or persecution arises"* (Matt. 13:21). These people gleefully embrace a doctrine of escape, wanting to be raptured from their color TVs, electric blankets and air conditioned dwellings.


	They can hope all they want, but they won't gain anything by it. God chastens His own and doesn't hesitate to use the "rod of affliction" (Heb. 12:5-11). But what is there to fear? When has the Lord ever failed those who trust in Him? If we have to die for Jesus, should we long for a hospital bed? Wouldn't it be better to sacrifice our lives for Him than pass away in our sleep?




	Click Book for More about LATEST WORD ON THE LAST DAYS

Modern Christians have NOT BEEN TAUGHT to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). I'm concerned for many in our Christian family who are NOT READY to bear much of anything for Jesus. Some can't even get to church when it rains. We've got a mass of weak helpless believers and we've got to do something about it. I am called to help. Click here to see my prophecy book...LATEST WORD ON THE LAST DAYS , (published in 1980), which shows how the PRE- WRATH RAPTURE harmonizes with the Scriptures. You're going to love that! If you already have the book, share it with a friend.


	But that's not all. Check out my latest book, LOVETT'S LIGHTS on 1st & 2nd PETER just off the press in October. These two books will get your blood going. It won't matter if you've wasted a lot of years. You can still earn a rich reward and stand joyfully before the Lord as He examines your record. I guarantee that once you read the books, you'll be motivated as never before. And then as you get going for Jesus, you'll find your heart longing to...

		MEET THE LORD IN THE SKY!


		Click Book for More about Lovett's Lights on 1st & 2nd Peter


	This article is Copyright 2001 by Dr. C. S. Lovett and is found on www.cslovettbooks.com