RaptureReady Saints

Salty Saints are not only a blessing to their realm of living influence but they are the “jewels” of the Lord Himself. Even as I write, the Bridegroom is carefully reaching into our world by His Holy Spirit to prepare a Bride for Himself. There are two massive movements of religion; one is preparing a bride for the antichrist and his reign of terror. The other is the espoused bride of the King of Kings and is being prepared for His eminent appearance in the midair.

Malachi caught a vision by prophetic revelation of this chosen Bride in his prophecy. He wrote by pure inspiration, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (Malachi 3:16-18) This prophecy is one of the First Covenant’s grandest pictures of the future Bride of Jesus Christ. The Father and the Son wait with great patience for this Bride to be complete. The eternal quarters (New Jerusalem) of the bridal chamber are complete and were seen by John the Revelator.

The “jewels” as The Holy Spirit calls them are recorded in this “Book of Remembrance” as described by Malachi. The office of the Holy Spirit is to complete the work of redemption and the Bride will be complete when we are resurrected and raptured to this celebration of the marriage supper. Other great aspects of redemption will continue. Notice that the Scripture as stated above says, “…and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” That’s the rapture before the Tribulation. To add to its perfection, the prophecy of Malachi further says, “Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked.” The saints shall judge the earth and all its inhabitants for a thousand years. That’s the great millennium that the Scripture speaks of so clearly.

How can we identify this company among the religious multitudes? This company is clearly a remnant as the Lord taught us. The multitude loves religion and fire insurance, but this company loves the cross and the resurrection of the Lord. Nothing so identifies the espoused Bride of the Lord as their abandonment to the sanctifying blood and His cross of redemption. Apostle Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross…”(Galatians 6:14) He desired to know nothing among them but the message of the cross, he said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:2-5)

One other identifying truth will enable us to spot the “Rapture-Ready Saint”. The New Testament church proclaimed “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:28) The rapture-ready saints are not only “cross-centered”, but they are anxiously and constantly watching and waiting for their Lord to appear. We are taught, and even warned over and over in the New Covenant to the church, to watch. Seventeen times in the New Testament from the Gospels to Revelation we are commanded to watch. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:13) “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36) “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

Ask most professing Christians if they are watching for the Rapture and they will either ask what you are talking about or respond with “I am not interested in a rapture.” There is tremendous resistance to this truth because the people have been misled by the apostasy of our age. Anyone that is not overwhelmingly in love with the Lord of our salvation, clinging only to His cross of redemption and watching for Him, is missing something.

Some of the very last words of Jesus Christ before He was crucified, resurrected, and ascended were, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3) It is absolutely clear He is only coming for the “Rapture-Ready Saints” that are looking for Him. Remember, “…and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28)