Don't be Left Behind; The Urgency of the Rapture

Don't Be Left Behind: Urgency of the Rapture | Where Is Your Voice Podcast

Join Erika on Where Is Your Voice Podcast as she delves into the biblical concept of the Rapture, stressing the urgency and the importance of being prepared. This episode, 'Don't Be Left Behind: The Urgency of the Rapture,' explores what the Rapture is, its scriptural basis, and the signs of Jesus' return. Erika reads and interprets key Bible passages from Thessalonians and Matthew, discusses common obstacles to readiness like doubt and habitual sin, and provides four actionable steps to prepare for Jesus' return. The episode concludes with a salvation prayer for those ready to place their faith in Jesus. 

Keywords: #Rapture #BiblicalProphecy #JesusReturn #FaithPreparation #ChristianPodcast #WhereIsYourVoice #PrepareForRapture #GospelTruth #EndTimes #SpiritualReadiness #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Salvation #Urgency #SecondComing #PrepareYourSoul #ChristIsComing #WatchAndBeReady #BiblicalTeaching #SignsOfTheTimes #ChristianLiving #KingdomOfGod #JesusIsComingBack #DailyScripture #SpiritualAwakening

00:00 Introduction: Are You Ready for the Rapture?

00:53 Understanding the Rapture: Biblical Foundations

02:47 Personal Testimony: The Impact of the Rapture

03:55 Jesus' Teachings on Readiness

07:42 Signs of the End Times

10:34 Common Obstacles to Readiness

13:31 Steps to Prepare for the Rapture

16:03 Salvation Prayer and Final Encouragement

Transcript

📍 📍 Don't Be Left Behind the Urgency of the Rapture.
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[00:00:00] 


Introduction and Purpose
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If you're a believer, let me ask you something. Are you prepared for the rapture? And if you are, are you helping others get prepared too? If you said no, I. What's holding you back, or maybe you're unsure about what the Rapture even is. Well, stay tuned because that's exactly what we're diving into today.

My name is Erica, and welcome to Where Is Your Voice Podcast, where truth and Faith intersect. Today's episode is called Don't Be Left Behind the Urgency of the Rapture. And let me say this upfront, this episode isn't about fear, it's about truth because the rapture is coming and not everyone will be ready.

Let's start here. 


Understanding the Rapture
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What is the rapture I. The Greek word in one Thessalonians chapter four, [00:01:00] verse 16 through 17 is herzo, which means to snatch away or to seize. It describes a sudden, supernatural moment when believers in Christ are taken up. Caught a way to meet him in the air now. 


Scriptural Insights on the Rapture
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I want you to listen closely as I read from scripture first Thessalonians chapter four verse 13 through 18.

Before. Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope for. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

According to the Lord's [00:02:00] word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left into the coming of the Lord, will certainly not proceed. Those who have fallen asleep for the Lord himself will come down from heaven with the loud command, with the voice of the Arch Angel. And with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words Now. Let me be transparent. This passage opened my eyes to the gospel. It moved me from maybe to, I know what I know.

This was the [00:03:00] moment everything changed for me. And I wanna encourage you if you, you're still wrestling with belief in this area. Keep reading this passage every day until your spirit aligns with it. Because if you don't believe Jesus is coming back, that disbelief becomes a major stumbling block, not just for your readiness, but for how you interpret the entire Bible.

It all begins with the cornerstone. Jesus is coming back. Your relationship with Christ, your heart posture, and your understanding of the scripture, they all hinge on that truth. So don't just hear this, let it sink in because when the trumpet sounds, you wanna be ready. Now listen. 


Jesus' Teachings on Readiness
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And see what Jesus himself says on why preparing for this [00:04:00] day is so important.

I will be reading in Matthew chapter 24, verse 36 through 51, but about that day, our hour. No one knows. Not even the angels in Heaven nor the son, but only the father as it was in the days of Noah. So it will be coming of the son of man for in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving and marriage.

Up to the day Noah entered the art. And they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how we'll be . At the coming of the son of man. Two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other left, two women will grinding with the hand mail. One will be taken and the other left.

Therefore. Keep watch because you do not [00:05:00] know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this, if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you must also be ready because the son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant who the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good. That servant whose master finds him doing so. When he returns, truly, I tell you. He will be put in charge of all of his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, my master is staying away a long time, and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.

[00:06:00] The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him at an hour when he is not aware, he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. Where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Let that sink in knowing that we are ambassadors for Christ until he returns. Think about it. If you have your own business and you allow someone to run your business while you were away, how would you want them to treat your business? And your clients until you return. How would you feel if they didn't properly take care of your business and your clients before you left?

You told everyone this, who will be in charge until you come back and you will hope that they represent you even better than you could. Well, [00:07:00] Jesus. It is in us to aid us on how to properly represent Jesus until he returns. It's our mission to not only prepare for Jesus return, but also prepare others and represent Jesus well as the ambassadors to the kingdom as we are.

You might be thinking to yourself. I still have time before I have to start preparing, but as Jesus stated, we don't know the time nor the day he will return, but when he does, it will be suddenly in the blink of an eye. 


Signs of the End Times
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Now, Jesus did mention things we can look for in this readiness, and that's also in Matthew chapter 

corret: 24 , 

verse three through 15.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately [00:08:00] tell us. They said, when will this happen and what will be a sign of your coming? And at the end of the age, Jesus answered, watch out that no one deceives you for many. Will come in my name claiming I am the Messiah and will deceive many.

You will hear wars and rumors of war, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famine and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me at that time.

Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will [00:09:00] appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved, and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached , in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and the end will come.

So when you see standing in the holy place, the abomination that causes desolation spoken of through the prophet Daniel, let the reader understand. So Jesus talks about deception, wars, rumors of wars, nations rising against the nation, famines. Earthquake persecution, betrayal, love growing code, the gospel being preached to all nations.

We're seeing these signs. We are [00:10:00] living in the birth pains that Jesus described. I also want you to understand that currently approximately. 2000 out of 2,500, prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled. That means the return of Jesus is not a myth, and it is closer than ever. So you have to ask yourself, if Jesus came back right now, would I be caught up or left behind?


Common Obstacles to Readiness
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These are common reasons why. People are not preparing doubt or unbelief. And second Peter, verse three through four says, in their greed, their teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare [00:11:00] angels when they sin, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment.

He did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on his ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness and seven others. Some people are distracted. By rarely things in one Corinthians chapter seven, verse 29 through 31, it says what I mean, brothers and sisters. And that time is short from now on.

Those who have wives should lives as if they do not Those who mourn as if they did not. Those who are happy as if they were not those who buy something as if they were not theirs. To keep those who use the things of the world as if it was not engrossed in them. For the world in its present form is passing away.

Some people have habitual sin. In Romans chapter one, [00:12:00] verse 24, it reads, therefore, God gave them up in their sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worship and serve courage. Things rather than the creator who is forever praised.

Amen. And in Second Thessalonians chapter two, verse 10, all the ways the wickedness deceive those who are perishing, they perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so they will believe the lie. So habitual sin puts a blinder over your eyes.

Some people have lukewarm faith. Our cultural Christianity. In First John chapter two, verse three through six, it says, we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, I know him but does not do what he [00:13:00] commands is a liar. And the truth is not in that person, but if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them, this is how we know we are in him.

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. So you have to ask yourself these questions. Am I living like someone who believes Jesus can come at any moment? What's one thing I need to surrender to today? 


Steps to Prepare for the Rapture
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Now you may be wondering, how can I get ready? Well, I have four steps that can help you in that area.

And step one is believe in the gospel that Jesus died rose and is coming back again in one Corinthians chapter one, verse 21, reads for sense in the wisdom of God the world. Through his wisdom [00:14:00] did not know him. God was pleased through the foolishness of what we preach to save those who believe as you heard, to save those who believe.

So you must believe to be saved. If you have a lack of belief, pray that God will strengthen your belief. Step two, repent, repent of sin, and live in a daily surrender. Matthew chapter three, verse two says, and saying, repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near. Then step three, be in a relationship, not just religion.

Spend time with him. Matthew chapter seven. Verse 22 through 23 says, many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesizing your name and in your name, drive out demons and in your name performed many [00:15:00] miracles. Then I will say to them plainly, I never knew you away from me, you evil doers and step four.

Watch and be ready. Stay spiritually alert. First Thessalonians chapter five, verse six says so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us remain awake and sober. This verse encourages you to be vigilant and clearheaded avoiding spiritual drowsiness. You're not preparing out of fear, but out of love for the one who is coming back for you.

I challenge everyone to read one Thessalonians chapter four, verse 13 through 18. Every day this week, ask the Holy Spirit to stir your urgency and strengthen your belief to unbelievers. If you haven't placed your faith [00:16:00] in Jesus, today is the day of salvation.


Salvation Prayer and Final Encouragement
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I invite you to pray to salvation prayer with me. I'll be doing that right after, so to the believers. Don't just be ready. Help others get ready. Share the truth. Live like you're expecting him to be here at any second 'cause it can happen at any second as a promise unbelievers or if you feel like you need to reclaim your life with Jesus, please pray the salvation prayer with me.

I will say it slow and you can repeat it after me. Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God [00:17:00] and that he died on the cross for my sins.

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I invite Jesus into my heart and I ask him to be my Lord and Savior.

Thank you for this new life. In Jesus' name, amen.

If you pray that prayer today, please let me know. I love to connect and support you. And remember, heaven is rejoicing over you. 'cause the angels in heaven rejoice over one person who says yes to Jesus because neither is a new name written in the book of light. So thank you for joining me. And [00:18:00] where is your voice?

Let your voice rise in truth, boldness, and urgency because Jesus is coming and we don't wanna be silent or left behind. Okay.