I started this post some time ago following a Bible Class. Greg our teacher stated something to the effect, that when expectations are not met we can become offended. So the other morning as I was reading a post on WordPress I was reminded of what Greg said.

I need to preface what I am going to point out, because I actually do agree with Don the author of the post, on much of what he says in his article, from which I take his quote. But I must speak to the quote i have lifted. I do encourage you to read the rest of what he says, because it is good advise. So let’s look at what I disagree with.

“My Friends, if you do not follow Jesus Christ in your Life, you’re in that passage of Scripture above (2 Tim. 3:1-7). And knowing this, where do you think you will be when the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ takes place? “LEFT BEHIND,” that is where, right here on earth instead of Heaven! Or have you missed the Passage of Scripture that tells you this?

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.“

See… there’s that small word…FEW…and it should scare the you-know-what out of you too! Do you understand this? Out of the entire number of people that have ever lived on this Earth, including those that are alive today and any that are to come…Only a FEW will make it to Heaven to be with the Lord…

My Friends, what a Gift! If this life is so very short…remember…Eternity is FOREVER and EVER. Now you must make a decision, because the Time is so very short before the Rapture. It could happen as you read this article; it could happen tonight or in the Morning tomorrow… Where are you headed?…”

The above quote is taken from raptureready.com How Much Worse Can It Get? :: By Don Twobears

There is even part of this statement with which I agree. The word which Jesus speaks does emphasize that only “few” will be in the eternal heavenly kingdom. But making the pre-Trib Rapture is not the point of Jesus words. This method of evangelism has been with the church to some degree or another since the 1830’s. It has created expectations which have led to the adverse effects that Greg alluded to, although he in his own eschatology would agree with Don.

Don says that Matt. 7:13-14 is the Scriptural proof that one will be left behind in the rapture if not following Jesus. The rapture is certainly not the emphasis of this passage, the emphasis is the way to life eternal, vs. the way to destruction. Finding the way is what is important not because the Rapture could occur at any moment, but because destruction awaits those who do not find the way.

The early believers who followed Jesus were known as the people of the way, all others were on the wide road to destruction. Destruction will occur in the lake of fire as men remaining on the broad way will endure whatever judgment he is deemed worthy to endure there. The end of the broad way is destruction.

If you are reading this you need to realize that you are given in this verse a choice between a broad gate and a narrow gate. We are going to enter one of the two. The decision is Jesus and the freedom that God offers by His grace (the narrow way) vs. all other choices which run the gambit from “no god” to each and every false god.

Notice, there is only one narrow way, and every man who enters eternity with God must enter that gate and walk that way no matter if Jew or Gentile. All Old Testament saints are in that way having heard the preaching of Jesus in paradise. All Jews who will enter the millennium from the Tribulation period must come that way, and this is why the first resurrection includes all who will enter that gate, and this is why the Rapture of those, who are alive and remain in Christ is taught to follow this first resurrection of all, who are the dead in Christ when He comes. Many both Jew and Gentile will die in Christ during Tribulation. The false hope given by any rapture teaching prior to the first resurrection will yield for the one expecting it an unmet anticipation yielding adverse doubts, and possibly an offense toward God. The gate is narrow (small) and the way is straight leading to eternal life.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “ When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives , And He gave gifts to men .” Ephesians 4:4-8 NASB

Jesus is the only way until He comes, then all who are in Christ will be with Him. We are told that the Rapture is our blessed hope because it removes us from earth when God is testing all who dwell on the earth, Jesus said that He will keep us from that hour of testing, He will do that, you can take Him at His word, but do you know for certain what that hour entails? Can you define it? Can your church show you it’s definition? The time seems near for Tribulations presence. Is Tribulation that hour or is tribulation entirely different from the hour of testing?

If the Temple is rebuilt and you are still here. If there is a figure who sets himself in that temple and declares himself to be God and you are still here, will you remain in the faith when his forces come for all believers? Will you be one of these few who endure until the end in Christ? Time is progressing toward these days. Will you endure to see the Resurrection and or Rapture, even if it is after all of this? Or will you be offended. Jesus sent word to John the Baptist while in Herod’s prison — do no be offended when I do not deliver you John, or when disappointment comes.

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (KJV)