On that first Sunday after the Rapture, will your church parking lot be empty? Statistics from George Barna indicate 65% of church goers are not truly born again. Billy Graham thought only one in four who came forward at crusades were really saved. A. W. Tozer claimed that as many as 90% of the ‘churched’ were unsaved.During the 1800's revivalists had what were called “birthing rooms” where individuals would go to “labor” in prayer after being convicted by the Holy Spirit. In the early 1900's – “decisional evangelism” became common where someone simply walked down an aisle, or raised a hand, or signed a card, and/or prayed a prayer. To how many of those will the Lord say, 'I never knew you.' (Luke 7:23). Considering the current spiritual state of the church, it’s not hard to believe. Moreover, just before Christ returns, many believers will have fallen away from truth (2 Thess. 2:1-3).
There is evidence in the Scriptures that people who haven’t heard the gospel, or who have heard it but fell away will get another opportunity after the rapture. In Revelation, John speaks of those who come to faith during the Tribulation, but many of whom will be martyred. (Rev. 7:9; 20:4). And church parking lots everywhere will be empty.
Hi Greg,
ReplyDeleteYes, I think there will be many who are surprised at who will be in heaven! One of the things that I remember a preaching saying a crusade was, "Untie your shoes. That way, if the rapture should happen before the end of the meeting, the unbelievers will have a great mystery as to why there are so many empty shoes in this church."
I like the bible uses of the words "ambassador" and "citizenship." How can I be better prepared for the rapture? To act as if what God has declared is true, I am an ambassador of heaven and my citizenship is there.
Godspeed!
Larry Q
And you probably know that I like the word "alien"!!
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