Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Every Christian believer ought to be waiting and diligently looking for the
Rapture, i.e., the “glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ.”
Those who are watching and waiting for the Lord's appearing are concerned about the way they live. This is why the Apostle Paul said in 2nd Timothy 4:7-8 . . .
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Believers who are diligently watching for the Lord's return are Soul Winners (Luke 8:15; Proverb 11:30; Daniel 12:3; 1st Corinthians 3:7-8; 2nd Corinthians 5:10-11). Believers who are living for Jesus won't be ashamed of Him when He appears at the Rapture. Those believers who are living selfishly, choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of this temporal life, will be ashamed and suffer loss at the Judgment. They will have nothing to show for their time on earth.
This does not mean that believers are without sin or fault; it does mean that one is making an effort to please God because they have faith in the Son of God. Most people are living today as if there is no God. Even most professed Christians live their lives as if they weren't saved at all. The Bible teaches that Jesus could return at any time, and we should “WATCH” for the Lord's return. Mark 13:35-37 . . .
“WATCH ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH.”
Are you watching for the Lord's return? Do you love Jesus? Are you preaching the Gospel to lost sinners? Our time on earth is short, whether the Lord returns today or our life's span runs out. In just a short time we will be in eternity. All that will matter then, as believers, is what we did for Jesus' sake and the Gospel's.
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that He might come back at any time, suddenly, imminently, without any notice or signs. The most important characteristic of Christ's return is that is could happen without warning, suddenly, catching us off guard if we're not faithfully serving our Master...
Mark 13:32-37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
The Lord told us TO WATCH, because He might come back at any time, suddenly. For anyone to teach that the Rapture cannot happen until after the 7-year Tribulation period is blatant heresy. There's absolutely no way that the Rapture could happen after the Tribulation. There are numerous reasons. The following passage of Scripture 100% proves the Pretribulation return of Christ...
Matthew 24:42-44, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
If naysayers are correct in their Postribulation heresy, then we would know absolutely that Christ cannot return until after the Rapture (which would make Matthew 24:42-44 impossible). How can we watch for the Lord's imminent and sudden return if He cannot return until after all the tragic events of the 7-year Tribulation period (as taught in the book of Revelation)? The only logical and workable conclusion is a Pretribulation Rapture, that is, the Rapture will take place BEFORE the Tribulation Period.
