XIX. How Can I Be Sure I Am One Of The Elect, One Of The Chosen Ones, And Will Be Taken To Heaven In The Rapture?

This presentation was written with the thought that most readers of these complex issues would likely already have a personal, loving relationship with Jesus as their Savior.  However, I feel certain that many who read this will not be absolutely sure that they will be included in that gathering together, the Rapture, which we have referred to so often.  This portion is therefore written just for you because it is terribly important, and is my prayer, that your name will be written in the Lambs Book of Life, and you will be included as a part of God’s family in that momentous Rapture occasion.  IT IS COMING!

First, you must bow before Jesus and tell Him that you are a sinner, that you realize you are hopelessly lost, and you have no hope of Heaven unless Jesus intervenes for you.  In Romans 3:10,11, the Bible tells us that there is none righteous, no not one, and Dear Friend, you and I were included in that verse. (Romans 3:10-11, 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”)  Then Jesus said there are none that seeketh after Him.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit do the seeking of each of us to become His children.  You must believe with all your heart the two verses mentioned above, and come to the positive conclusion that you are a sinner, lost, and headed for hell.  Then humbly tell Jesus that you know you are a sinner and that you believe everything in this paragraph, and that the above verses in Romans included you, and then we can go to the next step.

Second, now that you have concluded you are a sinner and need the help of Jesus, read Romans 3:23 and tell Jesus that you, like every other human creature that lived after Adam, have sinned, and you have come short of the glory of God and His perfection. (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,)

Third, read Romans 5:8 and tell Jesus you agree with His Word that God the Father demonstrated His tremendous love for every one on earth, that even while were still sinners He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. (Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.)

             Fourth, if you have agreed with the scripture that you are a sinner and are lost, then you must be made aware of and acknowledge that all of your sin is the transgression of the law, (I John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.) and sin is of the devil, (John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.) and sin is all unrighteousness, (I John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.) and sin is the omission of what you know to be good, (James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.) and sin is the thought of foolishness. (Proverbs 24:9 The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.)  Sin is described as coming from your heart, (Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.) and sin is the fruit of lust, (James 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.) and sin is the sting of death, (I Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.) and sin is the work of Satan, (Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.) and sin is an abominable thing that God hates, (Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness.) and sin is defiling, (Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and our fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity.) and sin is deceitful. (Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.)  Jesus paid the full price for all of our sins with His shed blood and death on the cross of Calvary, (I Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,) and this same Jesus has power to forgive sins, (Matthew 9:6 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”) and has the power to purge sins, (Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,) and to take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!)  This is a brief summary of why God hates sin, and the consequences of sin, and why repentance in each of our lives is of such great importance. Repentance is extremely important, and it should be our continuing desire to completely turn away from sin in our lives, and to continually restore a close relationship with God our Father.  True repentance occurs when a person shows genuine sorrow over his sin.  Repentance proves one’s Salvation.  John the Baptist (the announcer, forerunner of Jesus teaching ministry on earth) taught the necessity of Repentance in Matthew 3:2, (Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”) and why Jesus taught repentance in Matthew 4:17, (Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”) and in Mark 1:15, (Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”) and in Luke 13:3, (Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.) and several times in Revelation.  And this is why Peter taught repentance in Acts 2:38, (Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”) and why Jesus instructed His disciples to teach repentance in Mark 6:12.  (Mark 6:12 So they (the disciples) went out and preached that people should repent.)  Repentance must become an integral part of our lives, as we turn our back on sin, and make a committed effort to keep any sin from gaining control of any part of our lives.

Fifth, we read in Romans 6:23 that as a result of the sin we read about in the above verses, our penalty, or wages, for all this sin is death. (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.)  But God the father gave us a gift, it is free, and absolutely cannot be earned or worked for, and this gift is eternal life, and we gain this eternal life through believing in the death on the cross of His precious Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Remember, most people believe there was a Jesus, and many religions even teach that Jesus was a good man, even a prophet, but just believing this sentence will not get anyone admitted to Heaven.  You must believe with all your heart that Jesus was truly the Son of the living God (Acts 4:12 tells us “there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved”), and that Jesus paid for your Salvation with His shed blood on Calvary’s cross, and then you will have eternal life in Jesus. 

Sixth, you must also believe with all your heart that there is no way to enter Heaven except by believing (1) that Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”) and was (2) truly the Son of God, (Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”) and that (3) He was “with God” and “was God”, (John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word was God.) and that (4) Jesus died on a cross (Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;) to pay for your sins. (Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.) and pay the price for your Salvation, (Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”)   You must also believe that (5) Jesus was buried in a grave three days and three nights, (Matthew 20:19 “and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”) and that (6) Jesus was resurrected from the dead by God His Father, (Acts 2:24 Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.) and that He lived another 40 days on earth (Acts 1:3, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.) in His glorified body, and was seen by His friends and disciples and over 500 at one time (I Corinthians 15:3-8, 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.) before he ascended to Heaven to be seated at God’s right hand. (Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,)  In Romans 5:6-9 we are told that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-9, 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.)  If you truly believe without reservation everything in this and the above paragraphs, tell it to Jesus.  You can now be assured that you are now one of His children.

          Seventh, follow the directions in Romans 10:9, (Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.) and confess with your mouth (with your voice tell Jesus, as well as your friends) that you have accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life and believed all the scriptures and all that was written above, and that you believe in your heart that God raised His Son Jesus from the dead, (proof in Acts 2:24 Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.), and then the scripture (John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name) says you shall be saved.  In Romans 10:13 we read that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”)  Again, tell Jesus and God our Father and the Holy Spirit (they are three in one, the Trinity) what you have believed, and that you want to be one of His children, one of the elect, a member of the family of God.  Now the Holy Spirit will indwell you, and will guide you and be present in your life at all times as you invite and allow Him total residence within you.  And whether you sleep (die) or are still alive at the Rapture, your name will be in the Lamb’s Book of Life and you will be taken to Heaven and be a part of that glorious scene in Revelation 7:9.

WELCOME to the family of God.  Read the Bible, God’s Word, regularly (daily if possible), and get to know your new-found friend and Savior Jesus Christ personally.  Continually (A)cknowledge Him as the Lord of your life.  Talk to Jesus and God your Father daily, and often, in prayer.  (C)onfess all your sins and ask forgiveness every time you talk to Him.  (T)ell Jesus often that you love Him, and also God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  To insure a Spirit filled life, (S)ubmit your life totally to Jesus. 

Make Him an integral part of your life, and feel free to ask Him for help and directions.  He wants to help you more than you will ever know.  Remember this paragraph, A.C.T.S.  Christian fellowship will become very important to you, so try to find a good, Bible believing and teaching church where you can attend and worship regularly.  You need to be fed from the Word regularly, and fellowship with other believers.  May God richly bless you!

If you have asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, and you would like to share your newfound joy with someone who is interested in what has happened in your life, we would invite you to e-mail us at rapturetruths@msn.com and tell us about it.  It would be a privilege to hear from you and pray for you, and we will be happy to suggest resource material to help you in your Christian walk if you desire.

XIX. YOU CAN BE OF HELP IN SPREADING THIS MESSAGE.

Because of the times in which we are now living, it is urgent that all the preceding pages be circulated to as many leaders in our churches as possible, and soon.  This entire letter, or any portion of it, is not to be sold, and no profit is to accrue to anyone from its distribution and use.  The distribution of this letter will be by the Internet, and by each of us duplicating and distributing it in print or by e-mail.  You are free to duplicate all, or any part of this, and give it to youth leaders, pastors, Sunday school teachers, board members, and whomever you can think of that could have an influence in our Christian churches, schools, and colleges as to what I believe should be taught regarding the timing of Christ’s return.  You can also use it in home or church Bible studies.  Tell all your friends and acquaintances about www.rapturetruths.com, so they too can study and research what Jesus taught.  May our Lord and Savior bless this presentation, and you, as you reproduce it for distribution, as would be pleasing to Him.  Thank you for reading this, and may God use and bless you as you seek to serve and understand our Savior’s teaching.

We would like to hear from you, whether or not this has been helpful to you.  If you would like this entire presentation sent to yourself, to your pastor, or to any friend by e-mail as an attachment, noting it was requested by you together with your e-mail address, send us your e-mail with your name, address, and phone number (optional), and the e-mail address of the one(s) to whom you want it sent, and we will endeavor to get it out as soon as possible.  You can e-mail us at rapturetruths@msn.com.  We will suggest good resource material to further substantiate this teaching if you desire. 

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