Many years ago, when I first became a Christian, the denomination I belonged to believed the rapture would take place post tribulation. They believed all Christians alive on the earth at His second coming, along with those who’d died in Christ through the ages, would ascend, meet Him in the air, do a u-turn, and come back to earth for the millennial reign.  I remember how we laughed at those who believed in a pre-tribulation rapture, those who believed in the “Great Escape.”          

          It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I did an in depth study of the subject, that my belief on the rapture was totally transformed. Although I now understand Jesus will come for the Church prior to the wrath of God being poured out on this world, God has shown me it will not be as many believers think. Quite a few Christians I know quickly dismiss the horrors happening around the globe, believing it’s something they’ll never have to contend with, and end any discussion of what may be coming with statements like, “Well, I believe Jesus will be taking us out of here before any of that happens.” I believe our brothers and sisters who are already going through intense tribulation in other parts of the world would disagree.          

          A little over a year ago, I began to sense things were beginning to move so quickly that, if Jesus didn’t come for His Church soon, the Church would indeed be here through some very tough times.  Knowing that before Jesus comes for His glorious Church, a great awakening is to occur, was beginning to confuse me. Because looking around, it seemed that a large portion of the Church was sound asleep!  Other than in a few places and situations here and there, there didn’t seem to be much glorious activity going on within the church, especially in America. After all, wasn’t the Church supposed to be doing the works of Jesus? Jesus said we’d be doing even greater works than He did (John 14:12). It was obvious to me that the Church was nowhere near that level of glory, and God would have to do a really quick work to get us there.  I felt I absolutely had to get some answers from the Lord; I needed to find rest and peace in all this, so I entered into a time of prayer over the matter.           

          Weeks went by, and I’d resigned myself to the fact that God would show me what I needed to know – when I needed to know it. One morning, mid-July, 2015, during my quiet time with the Lord, out of the blue I was given the following vision:

          I was on my knees, bowed down in a fetal position, with my face to the ground (like the position we took in grade school during a tornado drill).  I slowly raised my head up and realized I was covered with a gray powdery substance.  As I looked around me, I saw utter destruction as far as my eyes could see. The landscape looked like the photos you see when a tornado levels an entire neighborhood, except everything – absolutely everything was covered with a thick gray powder-like substance.  I began to rise up, and as I did, I saw a sprinkling of movement under the gray powder here and there. Just as it became apparent to me that it was other people rising up, I heard a voice say loudly, “My Church will rise from the ashes.”  As we rose to our feet, I felt infused with Godly strength, purpose, and determination. I knew the others also felt this, as I could see it in their expressions and bodily movements.  End of vision.

          The Lord is faithful to give us a Word in due season, and He showed me just what I needed to know.  Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth and show us things to come (John 16:13).  This vision revealed to me that great shaking and destruction are coming, and the Church will still be here – at least for the beginning of it. To be totally honest, once the full impact of what I saw hit me, I felt I was about to have a panic attack as fear began to rise within. I knew things were coming to America that we’d never experienced before.  I felt like I wanted to run, but there’s nowhere to hide from what’s coming.  Then God began to remind me of His promises and His great mercy toward us.

            This great shaking will be what actually awakens the sleeping Church. The awakened Church will rise from the ashes, and it’s then that the works of Jesus will be done as never before seen on this planet.  Jesus will minister through His Church to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and raise the dead. God in His mercy, will do a great work through His Church before the rapture, and we’ll finally see that great awakening we’ve always heard was coming.  Our Father is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance, and it will be through this great shaking that many will finally turn to Him in repentance and receive salvation!

          And the great escape? Jesus told us, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”   The good news is, when we see these things beginning to come to pass, we’re to lift up our heads, because our redemption draws near (Luke 21:28).  Jesus is coming for His Church!

            I believe the Glorious Church will be so about our Father’s business, that the rapture will be like a “suddenly.”  Many are having dreams and visions about the rapture, and most say they had a sense of it happening “sooner than they thought,” or “totally by surprise.”  I think that’s because, right before the rapture, we’ll be walking in the power and authority of Jesus Christ – in total victory. We’ll be taken up mid-stride – right in the middle of doing His work. The Holy Spirit gave me a couple of strong messages shortly after this vision, which I plan to share in my next post. These messages clearly show how His people are to prepare for the times ahead, how it is that we will have no fear, as we boldly take our stand in the total VICTORY of our Lord Jesus Christ! Praise be to our Father for His tender mercy and great love for us. ToHimBeTheGlory!