We are in the end time. We are nearing the Rapture. The Rapture will come like a thief. When we least expect it. We must be ready at all times. If there were any signs that told us when the Rapture might happen, it would not come as a thief in the night without warning. We will probably not see the ten kings that are ruling when the Antichrist arises and supplants three of them. We may see the ten kings, but we will be united with Christ before we can know who the Antichrist is. Christians will be removed at the same time as “He who now restrains” “And then the lawless one will be revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

Another way of looking at it is, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only (Matthew 24:36).” This verse mentions the day or the hour, but it does not say that we could not know the season. If the Rapture happens at the midtribulation point, then we will know the day. If it happens at the end of the Tribulation then we will know the day. Even if it is delayed for 30 days as the 1290 day prophecy speaks of, then someone will guess and be right about which day it comes. No man can know the day or hour, so it is impossible for it to come at the mid point or end of the Tribulation.

Not knowing the day or the hour, we have to be ready for His call at any time. What we can know is the season. This is taken from the 1 Thessalonians 5 passage that states, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief (v. 4)”. In v. 3 Paul writes, “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.” In the case of a pregnant woman, there is the expectation of a labor, the knowledge of a baby to be born. We should be ready as a pregnant woman, ready for the Rapture to come upon us as the labor pains upon a pregnant woman. We know it is coming (and soon) but we do not know exactly when!

Much is made of the imminence of seeing Christ and how it was represented to the people in the first century. It was less than 100 years before they saw Jesus Christ. It will be less than that for most of you who are reading this. Jesus will return to this earth to collect His believers or you will go and see Him when you die. So, there is a definite time limit as to how long you are able to accept His gift. The world is in the last days now, but humans have individually been in their last days throughout history. Not one has lived long on this earth, and you should be ready for that day when you see Jesus Christ face to face!

Some will say that they have time as they are only … 20?,30? If they get out of bed in the morning, take a shower, or get into a car, they are risking their lives. Indeed many have died in their sleep so even being in bed is not “safe” for anyone. The point is that we probably will not know when we are going to be face to face with our God. Not even the old or very sick know exactly when they will be with God. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).” “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10).” What they should accept is that at some point they will be face to face with God. They will be faced with God judging their life here on earth and if they did not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then they will be cast into the lake of fire.