IN A FLASH!

Flash flooding on July 4th, in the great State of Texas, has captivated our attention, baffled our minds, torn our hearts apart, and moved us to sincere and earnest prayers for those who are hurting! While there are attempts to place the blame for this catastrophe on somebody or on some agency, there is really no blame to ascribe! Here is what we know at this point in time, about the horrific situation in Hill Country, Texas.

1) This was a "once in a hundred plus year" devastating rain event causing flash flooding in the very early morning hours (reports say around 3:00 am). Rain and thunderstorms are still occurring.

2) The waters of the Guadalupe River rose very quickly, over 36 feet in less than 45 minutes!

3) Many people didn't get the warnings since it was so early in the morning on a holiday. People were asleep and their devices mostly silenced or their cell coverage was out of range.

4) Ask most Texans and they will say that they receive lots of watches, alerts and warnings related to severe weather that do not materialize (though some certainly do), so it becomes easy to dismiss them.

5) Around 27 girls, ranging in age from 7 to 17 and several counselors who were at an all-girls' Christian Camp, directly alongside the Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, died as a result of the flooding. The camp's co-owner and director, Richard "Dick" Eastland, age 74, died in his heroic efforts to rescue campers.

6) 126 people have lost their lives due to the flooding and 160 are still unaccounted for.

7) A number of wonderful organizations, churches and citizens are volunteering their time and services to help in any way possible. Many are reaching out in the name of Jesus, believing the Scriptures "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called people to earnest prayer. Celebrities like George Strait and professional teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs have donated millions of dollars to assist. Other heart-wrenching details are still being told.

It all happened "in a flash." It was very sudden and extremely serious. Many people were caught unsuspecting and unprepared; it was devastating for so many, and for them, life will never be the same. It will take a very long time to experience any kind of recovery. Imagine, sending your child to camp and have him/her die or be lost there because of a treacherous storm and flood.

The events of this last week have brought to my mind another "in a flash" occurrence that is scheduled to take place. We don't know WHEN this event will happen, but we definitely know it will! We have been given the watches, the warnings and alerts. We are told it will be sudden and extremely serious, and yet so very many ignore the alerts and continue living unsuspecting and unprepared. And just as the Texas flash flood, this coming occurrence will also be truly devastating for an innumerable host of people. What is this scheduled event of which I now speak? IT IS THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST FROM HEAVEN! It will be heralded by a victorious shout and the blast of a divine trumpet! Instead of it coming "in a flash" it will be in the "twinkling of an eye." It is what is called the RAPTURE, of all those who truly and personally know, love, honor and follow Jesus in personal faith in His atoning, sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection in power from the dead and the grave! Keep in mind, there are TWO PARTS to what is taught in Scripture about the Second Coming of Jesus!

1) The RAPTURE. While the word "rapture" is not explicitly found in Scripture, it is derived from the Latin word, "rapturo" which means "caught up." We do find the phrase "caught up" in the Bible. Here is just one example. ". . .we will be caught up together. . .in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord" (I Thesssalonians 4:17). In the Bible, "caught up" or "raptured" refers to a very sudden, forceful removal or gathering and taking away of all believers or followers of Jesus. The term is "harpazo" in the Greek New Testament and signifies a swift action, like a snatching or seizing and means the followers of Jesus will be "snatched up" from the earth to be with Jesus forever.

2) The SECOND COMING or the RETURN OF JESUS TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH. This is called the MILLENNIUM, a 1,000 year reign of Jesus from Jerusalem over the entire world! While I believe the Rapture occurs PRIOR to the Great Seven-Year Tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus occurs at the END of that Tribulation Period; (a subject for a blog at another time).

The Rapture was indeed promised by Jesus Himself! He told His disciples when He revealed to them He was going to die and go away from them, "If I go. . .I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you will be also" (John 14:3). Also, the angels that spoke to the disciples when Jesus ascended back to heaven said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). So, let's now explore more fully some facts concerning these coming events that the Scripture reveals.

1) THE TIMING. We do not know when it will occur! No need or reason to speculate! Jesus said, "But of that day (of His return) and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son (Jesus), but the Father only" (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32). He also said, ". . .for the Son of Man (Jesus) is coming at an hour when you do not think He will come" (Matthew 24:44). As in the days of Noah, preceding the devastating flood that God sent to destroy the earth entirely (because of the ever increasing wickedness of the people He created,) life for so very many will involve the daily, weekly and monthly routines and they will not be suspecting or prepared for Jesus' return. I often hear people say, "I've heard this my whole life and He hasn't come yet, I don't think it will happen in my lifetime". Don't doubt but BELIEVE!

2) THE WARNINGS. Jesus told us, "Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42). "For this reason you must also be ready. . . .(Matthew 24:44). "You too, be ready. . . ." (Luke 12:40). "Be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with. . the worries of life, and that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap, for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times . . . ." (Luke 21:34-36). We have been thoroughly warned time after time!

3) THE EXTENT. Jesus' return will not be confined to one state, one nation, or one continent, but will be world-wide! ". . .it will come upon ALL those who dwell on the face of ALL the earth" (Luke 21:35).

4) THE SERIOUS AND DEVASTATING RESULTS. The Word of God is clear that the events of Jesus' return will be extremely serious and the results for those who have rejected Jesus will be eternally devastating! At the Great White Throne Judgement "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will put the sheep (believers) on His right and the goats (unbelievers) on the left. Then He will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' . . .Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (those in Christ) into eternal life' " (Matthew 25:32-46).

Hank Williams Sr. sang this song, "I Dreamed That The Great Judgment Morning". Here are some of its lyrics:

"I dreamed that the great judgment morning Had dawned and the trumpet had blown. I dreamed that the nations had gathered, To judgment before the white throne.

From the throne came a bright shining angel, And stood on the land and the sea. And swore with his hand raised to heaven, That time was no longer to be.

And oh, what weeping and wailing, As the lost were told of their fate. They cried for the rocks and the mountains. They prayed, but their prayers were too late." How tragic!!!

On the flip side is a gospel song written by James M. Black in 1893 with these words:

"When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair,

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share;

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there". How glorious!!!

Well, no doubt about it! One day, and perhaps sooner rather than later (signs of the times are everywhere), the heavens and the earth will be awakened by a mighty shout and the loudest trumpet sound that could ever be heard. The living Christ will have arrived to gather HIS PEOPLE unto Himself. The dead in Christ will be resurrected from their graves with immortal bodies and those alive and living for Jesus will have their mortal bodies changed to immortal in the "twinkling of an eye", and we ALL will be united with Jesus in the air, and so we will forever be with the Lord. THEN, all hell will break loose on the earth for seven years (The Great Tribulation) and horrible suffering will be the life of earth-dwellers. These are the FACTS AS PRESENTED IN SCRIPTURE!

The ONLY question to be answered is very personal and must be answered individually. Are you ready, fully alert and prepared for Jesus' return? When the roll is called up yonder, will you be there to answer roll call? We all can be, by placing our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord! And we can KNOW beyond any doubt that we'll be with Him for all eternity! "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life" (I John 5:13).

Do you KNOW?