True
Christians from all backgrounds share an expectation commonly known as
the Rapture of the church (see 1 Thess. 4:16-17). Although debate
surrounds the timing of this event, Scripture assures us that at the
last trumpet we will be caught up to "meet the Lord in the air" (v.17).
So, while critics will say that Francis does not believe in the Rapture,
the truth is that I do. However, it is plain that, according to many
Scriptures, there will also be a time of unusual grace prior to the
Rapture in which the living church of Jesus Christ, like a bride, makes
"herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).
During
this unparalleled season of preparation, those who are alive in Christ
shall realize a level of holiness and purity that will be the overflow
of the presence of Jesus Himself manifested through the church (1 Thess.
3:11-13; Eph. 5:26-27; Phil. 1:9-10). The result of this new spiritual
fullness will be a new level of unity. Faultfinding and gossip will
disappear. In their place will be intercession and love. Wholeness will
return to the citywide evangelical church. This also means that the
ambition and division we see today between congregations will be
identified as sin, which will be repented of before Jesus returns.
The
truth of this message must be made clear, for most Christians consider
oneness within the body inconceivable before Jesus returns. They have
not discerned nor warred against the enemy's lies, which have
conditioned believers to accept strife and sectarianism in the church.
It is my passionate conviction that the church that will ultimately be
raptured will be free of strife and carnal divisions -- it will be a
bride "having no spot or wrinkle" that has "made herself ready" for her
bridegroom (Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7).
According
to Scripture, during the Rapture, "in the twinkling of an eye" our
bodies will be changed (1 Cor. 15:52). But our character, that is, the
essence of who we have become, will remain intact. There will be no
regrets or wondering how "those from that church" made it, for the
living bride will be a church built together in love, meeting in
separate buildings but serving the one and only Lord. These true
disciples of the Lord Jesus will be known for their intense and holy
love for one another -- not merely in their individual local assemblies
but within the context of a citywide church.
It
is highly significant that the scriptural term for the Rapture is
called the "gathering together" (2 Thess. 2:1; Matt. 24:31). What
ultimately will be consummated in our gathering together physically to
the Lord will be precipitated by a spiritual gathering together of His
body on earth. Concerning the era known as the "end of the age," Jesus
taught that the "good fish" shall be "gathered . . . into containers"
(Matt. 13:48). And in the context of spiritual warfare, Jesus warned,
"He who does not gather with Me scatters" (Matt. 12:30).
This
scattering, dividing process among the Lord's sheep has gone on long
enough. Jesus has set His heart to bring healing and unity to His body.
In this regard, through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord spoke a somber
warning. He said, "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and
scattering the sheep of My pasture!" (Jer. 23:1). The Son of God is not
pleased with the carnal divisions in His body! Indeed, the Lord promises
to chasten those pastors who continue to build their kingdoms without
laboring together to build His. To them He says, "I am about to attend
to you for the evil of your deeds" (v. 2).
In
the tenth chapter of John, the Lord makes His goal clear: there shall
be "one flock with one shepherd" (v. 16). He reveals it is the wolf
nature that "snatches [the sheep] and scatters them," and it is the
hireling nature that allows the scattering to occur (v.12) . But His
promise to His sheep says this: "Then I Myself will gather the remnant
of My flock . . . and they will be fruitful and multiply. I will also
raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not
be afraid any longer . . . nor will any be missing" (Jer. 23:3-4). The
pastors of the last Christian church will be under-shepherds to the Lord
Jesus; they will be anointed to gather together His remnant and under
that anointing shall be "fruitful and multiply."
Indeed,
right now, in the context of humbling ourselves and submitting our
hearts to His will, we are participating in being "gathered together."
This process will progressively increase until the barriers between
brethren are melted by the overcoming nature of Christ's love. Before
Jesus returns, we will truly be "one flock with one shepherd." We will
be a holy and blameless sheepfold, meeting in different buildings but
baptized into one body.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The preceding teaching was adapted from a chapter in Pastor Frangipane's book, The Three Battlegrounds. This book is currently on sale and can be ordered from Arrow Publications at www.arrowbookstore.com.
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