Rapture Ready 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, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:18). 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 of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). He desired to know nothing among them but the message of the cross, he said, “For I determined not to know anything 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 – even warned over and over in the New Covenant – 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). “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (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).
Sandra Hendricks
Really enjoyed today’s message….and this statement (below) reminded me of the reason for the declining depravation of many:
“There are two massive movements of religion; one is preparing a bride for the Antichrist and his reign of terror…
along with those (rare but promised) people whose “spirit bears witness with our spirit”…
“…The… espoused Bride of the King of Kings..”
MAY WE UNIFY OURSELVES MORE AND MORE IN CHRIST, and ONE ANOTHER until HE COMES.
Ed Wood
Hello Pastor Joseph.
Great reflection here. Of all of those those who profess Christianity, those who believe in the Rapture, or even in a literal Second Coming of Jesus for that matter, are definitely in the minority. They are literally just a remnant.
We are in fact in the time when an apostate, neo-Laodicean church has consumed most of organized religion – and this in itself is just one more sign of how close the end must be!
Thanks for getting the message out.
tim sturm
no…hebrews 9 v28 lines up with mathew 25. the ten virgins. these are tribulation saints.
this applies to the second advent. NOT THE RAPTURE. THEY ARE IN REV 7 AND 14. THIS IS NOT THE
CHURCH. IF YOU READ PSALMS 45. THEY ARE ATTENDANTS TO THE WEDDING. HE APPEARS THE SECOND TIME
TO CLAIM HIS KINGDOM. THEN THE MILLENIAL REIGN WILL START.
IF IT APPLIES TO THE RAPTURE, THEN IF YOU DON’T LOOK FOR HIM, YOU WILL NOT BE RAPTURED, YOU
THEN HAVE A SPLIT RAPTUE.
IS CHRIST DIVIDED? GOD FORBID! YOU ARE SEALED UNTIL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION. THE AUTHOR OF
HEBREWS WAS WRITTEN TO HEBREWS. JUST AS MATHEW(UP TO CH28) WAS WRITTEN TO HEBREWS.
HEBREWS IS TRANSITIONAL, JUST LIKE MATTHEW AND ACTS. IT IS ALSO WRITTEN IN HEBREWS, IF WE SIN
WILLFULLY, THERE IS NO SACRAFICE FOR SIN. IT DOES NOT APPLY TO THE CHURCH AGE. IT WILL APPLY
IN THE MILLENIAL REIGN. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHEN WE WALK NOT BY FAITH, BUT BY SIGHT. WE WILL
SEE HIM.
Judy Becker
Dear Joe,
I’m afraid I can’t agree that only rapture-ready saints will go up. All who have really trusted Christ are part of the body. He is coming for all the TRUE church. But some have not continued to walk in the Spirit. They will probably be sent back to kindergarten, not fit for the responsibilities of the kingdom age.
However, the arrival and the judgment seat of rapture-ready saints will certainly be glorious. Rapture-ready saints will be fit for immediate service. They are indeed his special treasure. Those who have wasted their lives, living in the flesh, will not inherit the kingdom.
See you in Dallas.
Janet Hagen
In response to Judy: If your position is true, that all who believe will be raptured..not just those who are looking for Him and allowing the holy Spirit to keep them progressing in holiness…then why am I trying to live the separated life? Wow don’t I just go out, party it up, kick up my heels and say, Yes, I believe in Him..whenever He gets here I hope it’s a convenient time for me.” Sister..your stance doesn’t line up with the word. I don’t read about a “remedial kindergarten”. Can you back this up with scripture please?
R.B.
Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was offered up once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time , apart from sin for salvation” This NKJ version says it clearly. Brother Joseph my mind is on the urgency of the hour every single waking moment now. I feed on the signs of His coming and the current events of this world related to prophecy. I walk and talk the urgency to be prepared to most all I meet or communicate with. I pray they listen and prepare their hearts not to be left behind in our departure moment. God Bless you and all your works of righteousness…