Am I really
Anxious to
get Raptured?

[raptured.jpg]

A few words of advice
from Jesus Christ to
All Evangelicals

FRIEND, AS AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN, you are probably familiar with
     the Rapture.   While the word "Rapture" is not found in the [English] Bible, it means
     to be "caught up[,]" and describes the next major event on God's
prophetic calendar: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP
together with them in the clouds, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: and so
shall we ever be WITH THE LORD."
  1 Th. 4:17

During the Rapture, the Lord shall come to get all born again Christians, sparing
them from the outpouring of God's wrath upon this sinful world.   On that
glorious day the Bible says, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED incorruptible,
and WE SHALL BE CHANGED.   For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY."
  1 Cor. 15:51- 53

Now, you may be wondering about the title of this tract.   Surely, anyone who
knows the Lord is anxiously awaiting His return and looks forward to the day
they "meet the Lord in the air" and thus "ever be with the Lord."


However, as one observes the behavior of many evangelicals,
one has to wonder if they are really that anxious
to get suddenly caught up and snatched away from this present world.

Go back to what Jesus Christ taught His disciples.   He said to them: "No
servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.   YE CANNOT
SERVE GOD AND MAMMON"
(Luke 16:13).   Mammon means: treasures,
riches, the things of this world.   In context, the Lord is saying you can't be
devoted to this present world and expect to "Love the Lord thy God WITH ALL
THY HEART, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength: this is the first commandment."
  Mark 12:30

As Christians, we must resolve who comes first in our lives.   For we will
always want to be wherever our "treasure" is.   That is why Jesus warned:
"LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for
yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal: FOR WHERE YOUR
TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO."
  Mat. 6:19-21

While many evangelicals like to think they have given their hearts to Jesus
Christ, in reality, there seems to be something else competing for their
heart's devotion . . . something not found in Heaven . . .

AS ONE LOOKS at Evangelicalism, one can't help but notice how much of the
      world's culture evangelicals like to mimic.   Just to sight one example, consider
      their music and everything that surrounds it: the rhythm, the style, the
instruments used, the form of dress, the artwork on the CD covers, the hair, the
terminology, the promotions, the concerts, etc.
   Compared with how the world produces, performs, and presents its music, you won't
find that big of a difference between the world's music and that of evangelicals.

Within Evangelicalism one finds many resemblances, and at times even an affinity, to
the things of this world.   This goes contrary to what God commands: "If ye then be risen
with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand
of God.   SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH."

Col. 3:1-2

   It is as if the average evangelical is trying to grab Jesus with one hand, while still
hanging on to the world with the other.   They never forsook whatever worldly lifestyle
they had prior to "inviting Christ into their heart."   Compare the average evangelical with
Christ's disciples, whom the Bible says: "THEY FORSOOK ALL, AND FOLLOWED HIM"
(Luke 5:11).
  Jesus warned: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you THAT FORSAKETH
NOT ALL that he hath, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE."
  Luke 14:33

These early Christians did not approach Christ with the attitude: "How much of this
world's philosophy, culture, fads, and rudiments can I hang on to and still get saved?"

They came to Christ with a REPENTANT ATTITUDE, a willingness to FORSAKE their
known sin, their self-will, and any worldly aspirations they might have had.   They
SUBMITTED to whatever Christ willed for their lives.   "Then said Jesus unto his disciples,
If any man will come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS,
AND FOLLOW ME"
(Mat. 16:24).   They had to repent, because Christ warned: "I tell you,
Nay: but, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH."
  Luke 13:3

Now, before you start arguing "What's wrong with being a little worldly?" Remember,
your Bible says: "love not the world, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD.
If any man love the world, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM."
  1 John 2:15

There is a simple reason why Christians are not supposed to love this present world: "Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with
God? whosoever therefore will be A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD"

(James 4:4).
  This world hates the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Most evangelicals may argue that they don't consider themselves friends with the
world, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.   So why do they flatter a world
that hates Jesus Christ, when He is their supposed Lord and Saviour?   Jesus told His
disciples: "If the world hate you, ye know that IT HATED ME before it hated you.   IF YE
WERE OF THE WORLD, THE WORLD WOULD LOVE HIS OWN: but because YE ARE
NOT OF THE WORLD, but I have chosen you out of the world, THEREFORE THE WORLD
HATETH YOU."
  John 15:18-19
   As an evangelical, ask yourself, How well do you fit in with this world?   Do you realize
that, as Christians, the world is supposed to look at us as "PECULIAR PEOPLE" (1 Peter
2:9; Titus 2:14)
, and as "STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS" (1 Peter 2:11)?   We are not

supposed to fit in, much less blend in to the point where we look the same, think the
same, have the same worldly ambitions and goals, talk the same lingo, "party" the same,
or hear basically the same music only with different lyrics.
   Friend, please don't get offended, but if you feel right at home in this wicked, Christ
hating, sinful world, then something is terribly wrong.   Are you really anxious to get
raptured out of this world
and into Heaven, where the things you are so willing to
imitate, integrate, partake of, and even enjoy are no longer present?   Are you 100% sure
you are saved and born again?   Did you truly REPENT when you called on Christ?

Jesus said of all Christians: "THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am not of the
world"
(John 17:16).   A truly saved person can't get comfortable in this world!
   If you think everything you
have just read is too strict, too
legalistic, too extreme, and
totally unnecessary in the
Christian life, then please read
what God's Word has to say
about it.

  • "No man that warreth
    ENTANGLETH HIMSELF WITH
    THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE;
    that he MAY PLEASE HIM who
    hath chosen him to be a
    soldier."
      2 Tim. 2:4
  • "And you hath he quickened,
    who were dead in trespasses
    and sins: Wherein in TIME PAST
    YE WALKED ACCORDING TO
    THE COURSE OF THIS
    WORLD."
      Eph. 2:1-2

  • "DENYING UNGODLINESS
    AND WORLDLY LUSTS, we
    should live soberly, righteously,
    and godly, IN THIS PRESENT
  • Why "Christianize" the world?
    The Bible says "For they that are after the flesh
    do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are
    after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
      Rom. 8:5
       The unsaved, unregenerated person is spiritually
    dead (Eph. 2:1-4).   He/she is a soul at the mercy of
    their flesh.   With only their five senses, they can
    only relate to the things of the world.   ("Ye must
    be born again."
      John 3:7)
       Therefore, when an unsaved person tries to live
    spiritually, strictly according to the Bible, their
    natural inclination is to "cheat" by "Christianizing"
    whatever the world offers.   This way their flesh
    can still partake of, and enjoy, the things of the
    world without feeling guilty.
       They don't have to forsake a worldly lifestyle
    when they have a Christian version of the world
    to play with.   "As is the earthy, SUCH ARE THEY
    also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such
    are they also that are heavenly."
      1 Cor. 15:48
    WORLD; LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE, AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING of the
    great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
      Titus 2:12-13

  • "Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, and BE YE SEPARATE, saith the
    Lord, and TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; and I will receive you."
      2 Cor. 6:17

  • "And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: but be ye transformed by the
    renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
    perfect, WILL OF GOD."
      Rom. 12:2
  • "As obedient children, NOT FASHIONING YOURSELVES ACCORDING TO THE
    FORMER LUSTS in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, SO BE YE
    HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION
    [lifestyle]; Because it is written, BE YE
    HOLY
    [sanctified, set apart from this sinful world];
    FOR I AM HOLY."
      1 Pet. 1:14
  • IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
    you would go to Heaven?
      The Bible says
    YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).

    BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you
    from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
    "...your iniquities [sins] have separated
    between you and your God,"
    Isaiah 59:2.
    In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For
    all have sinned, and come short
    of the glory of God;"
    Romans 3:23.

    SECONDLY, you must realize that there is
    NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn
    Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through
    faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
    the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
    man should boast."
      Eph. 2:8-9   Baptism, good
    deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are
    all examples of good works that cannot save you,
    because: "Not by works of
    righteousness
    which we have done, but
    according to his mercy he
    [Christ] saved
    us
    ,"
    Titus 3:5.

    THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through
    Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the
    truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
    the Father, but by me."
      (John 14:6)   THAT'S
    WHY
    : "...while we were yet sinners, Christ
    died for us
    ."
      (Rom. 5:8-9)

    THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your
    mind
    ); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner
    and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and
    Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess
    with thy mouth the Lord Jesus
    [REPENT], and
    shalt believe in thine heart
    [TRUST] that God
    hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
    saved."
      Romans 10:9

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