Will You Fail the Test?

The apostle Paul threatens obstinate offenders. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?"

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

"Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge. (2 Co 13:5-10)"

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible is available in the Public Domain.

I recently submitted an article to RaptureReady and it 'failed the test'. Several points in the article were at the fringe of acceptability for the strict pre-tribulation dogma presented and enforced at that site. I love to visit the site because you find a wealth of really good stuff there. However, you will not see what I present here and in my other articles.

Among other things, I was told that "all born-again Christians will be taken at the Rapture". I ask you this; will a born-again Christian who is in bed with her neighbor’s husband at the time of the Rapture be taken? The answer is simple – no, she will not. Quoting Matthew Henry, "God will not spare those who remain obstinate".

Yes, born-again Christians sin. Being born-again does not stop the sin, it only slows it down somewhat and guarantees forgiveness . . . . to a point. Be careful here. If you think that being born-again ended your sin then you do not understand God's creation and God's plan for salvation.

So here is my point. When we are told that 'all' will be taken at the Rapture, what is the criteria for being included in the group called 'all'; the apostle Paul certainly did not mean 'all people'. Paul did not say 'all born-again'; he did not say 'all Catholics'; he did not say 'all from the Church of Christ'. The only thing we can be sure of is that all those acceptable to Jesus at the time of the Rapture will be taken.

We do not and we can not know that criteria – we can only speculate.

I state to you that there will be some 'obstinate and impenitent' born-again Christians left behind because there is something in their relationship with God that requires further testing.

And so I address you fellow born-again sinners; we are entering into dangerous times. You can forget your “feel-good” and “God-is-love” Christianity. You won’t recognize Jesus if this is your perception because this will not be His game-face when He returns. He won’t have time to give you a hug – He is in full battle mode and His game-face will be shock & awe.

At the Rapture we are not going up to sit around with Jesus and play harps with the angels. There will be much work to be done and it would be foolish to think we will not be directly involved in the war that will be either in progress or about to begin. Yes, I said and meant 'in progress'. We just don’t know the timing.

Did I hear you say; "War? I don't believe in war."? Well, you don't have a choice because God does believe in war; you either fight it here on earth or you can fight in the realm of Jesus. I want to be with Him; it will not be pleasant here. There is no middle ground and there are no sidelines. All that you see now is about to come apart - America will no longer be at the mall.

· If you are sure in your own mind that you will be taken at the Rapture – think again. You do not know the criteria. Examine yourself constantly so you will pass the test.

· If you are sure in your own mind that the Rapture will take place before the tribulation – think again. We do not and we can not know the timing.

· If you think you will recognize the Antichrist when he comes onto the scene – think again because he will deceive many including the born-again Christian woman in bed with her neighbor’s husband. And yes, he won’t be taken either even if he is the pastor of a large congregation.

· If you think you will have recognized the Rapture if you are left behind – think again because the resurrection of Jesus, the sign of Jonah, was the last sign mankind will ever receive confirming His role as our savior. The Rapture may not be manifested as a recognizable miracle to those left behind.

And so is Jesus in you? Are you sinning? Will you pass the test? If your answers are an emphatic "yes", "no", "yes", then I would say you are over confident.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."

2 Corinthians 13:5

I urge all to examine often.

V/r

James R. Lawrence