With all that has transpired in the last few years—gay marriage, much violence, terrorism, earthquakes and other natural disasters—people have been asking are we living in the last days? Will we be around when the Antichrist comes to power? Will we be alive when the Lord returns?
Will Jesus return in our lifetime? This question has come up much lately on Facebook and other social media and also in church teachings and discussions. This question raises other questions. Will the church be raptured? If so when, before, during, or at the end of the Great Tribulation? Is there even such a thing as the Rapture?
Every true born again believer believes in the second coming of Christ, but we have our doctrinal differences concerning the Rapture and the Great Tribulation. These differences should not bring division into the church.
There are those who believe in the Pre-Tribulation rapture, others who hold to the belief in a Mid-Tribulation rapture, and still others are convinced that the church will go through all seven years of the Great Tribulation and Christ will return at its conclusion.
Whenever I am asked my position on the rapture—am I pre, mid, or post tribulation—I respond by saying that I'm pan tribulation. The response by people is usually a blank stare followed by the question “What does that mean?”
It means that I believe that everything is in the Lord's hands and therefore everything is going to “pan out” according to His holy will.
So my answer to the question “will Jesus return in our lifetime?” is I don't know. Remember Jesus said that no man knows the day or the hour.
However, rapture or no rapture our blessed hope is that He is coming back for His bride!
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
HALLELUJAH!
