There are many things that Scripture tells us about the Rapture. We know it is imminent and the signs indicate it will come soon. We just do not know the day or the hour. We also are told that only those who have the Holy Spirit in them will be raptured. Those missing the Rapture will live in a very ungodly world. Are you prepared and ready?

2 Thessalonians 2:1 – 8 – “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

Paul says: “Let no man deceive you.” First, there must be a falling away. Every place this term is used in the Bible is negative. They fell away because they had no root. This means a departure from the faith in the lives of the saints and of the church. We are told things will get worse and worse as we enter the end times. Matthew 24:10 – 12 tells us many will turn away from Christ. Many false prophets will appear. Sin will be rampant everywhere.

2 Timothy 3:1 – 5 – “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

This describes the world’s attitude and those who have fallen away. In Revelation 3:14–18 describes the type of churches that will exist in the end times. “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

There is only one thing that is holding the Antichrist back and that is the Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit filled Christians. Some believe that Satan has had an Antichrist ready through every generation, such as Hitler. However, it has been spirit-filled believers that has held him back. Once the Rapture occurs, the Antichrist becomes a world leader for seven years, during the time of the Tribulation. Imagine a world without the Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit filled Christians. Presently, a number of churches have fallen away and have little influence in the world any longer.

Here are reasons for moral corruption:
a. Boastful, proud – An inflated self-importance.
b. Abusive – People who speak disrespectfully to others.
c. Disobedient to their parents – Behavior that breaks the fifth Commandment.
d. Ungrateful – Cannot appreciate others or give gratitude for favors.
e. Unholy – Disregard God in order to live only to please themselves.
f. Without love – People who love only themselves.
g. Unforgiving – Cannot allow for other people’s mistakes or weaknesses.
h. Slanderous – Enjoy spreading gossip and malicious reports about others.
i. Without self-control – Cannot restrain the feelings or actions
j. Brutal – Live like untamed animals
k. Not lovers of good – People who hate anything good
l. Treacherous – Ready and willing to betray anyone
m. Rash – People who act foolishly and carelessly and normally head-strong
n. Conceited – Narcissistic, very high opinion of themselves
o. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – People who are so misdirected that they can think only of themselves.
p. Having a form of godliness but denying its power – People who practice a form of godliness and used godliness as a cloak of respectability while denying God’s power over their lives.

Does this describe what will happen in the later days? Yet, many Christians will be deceived that the Rapture is years away. They believe they have many years to repent and get right with Christ. If you knew the Rapture would be within the next few months would it make a difference in your spiritual life? Is it time to be preparing to meet Christ?