Ark Valley News - Hope and hilarity

Hope and hilarity
By Chuck Terrill
Last Updated: September 17, 2015

The rapture might be just around the corner. There is a buzz of excitement in Christian circles, as believers contemplate what Jesus called, "the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3). For the uninformed, the parousia, or rapture, is when the dead in Christ will be resurrected and living Christians will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air. What will it be like on earth after Christ returns for all true believers?

People from every walk of life will vanish. There will not be an infant, toddler, or child under the age of accountability left on the planet. Millions of people will be in great anguish as they look for their missing loved ones. The sad realization that they have been left behind will settle in. The despair and depression will be overwhelming.

Every nation will find itself in turmoil. A wild tide of anarchy will prevail, as those who are left behind do battle for the possessions of the believers who have gone to be with Christ. The highways, airports, subway and rail systems will be in shambles as multitudes of operators are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Airplanes will fall from the skies. Automobiles without drivers will crash on every street and road. Unmanned trains will hurtle to their destruction.

Communications systems will be overloaded by those searching for answers. Cell towers and key communications equipment will have been destroyed by crashing automobiles and free falling airplanes. Computer systems will fail, and TV and radio stations will be off the air. World governments will not know how to respond. Billions of dollars will disappear with the collapse of the world banking system.

Police departments, fire departments, and EMTs will work until they are forced to give up because of fatigue. Hospitals will overflow, with very few staff members reporting for duty. Emergency shelters and first aid stations will be completely inadequate. The National Guard and all of the resources of the U.S. military branches will not be enough to quell the rioting and looting that will take place. The entire world will be in absolute chaos after the rapture of the saints.

The rapture will be the beginning of hell on earth. But, for those who go to be with Jesus in the rapture, complete bliss. Eternal joy. Praise and worship. Celebration and feasting. An eternal home. Fellowship with the Lord, Jesus Christ, himself. Forever and ever, amen.

In these last days, the best advice that could ever be given is to be ready for the rapture. Are you ready?

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Chuck Terrill is pastor of Valley Center Christian Church. He can be reached at chuck@valleycenterchristianchurch.org or 755-1233.