Guidelines for Those Left Behind

Even though the word rapture is itself not in the Bible, it is used as a label for events occurring at the appearance of Jesus in the sky to gather up those who have served him. Suddenly, millions of people will disappear from the face of the earth because they have recognized him as their Lord and Savior. This includes all people throughout the centuries.

This article is a composite of guidelines for those who are left behind on earth as advice for what will happen in the subsequent years. We may ask what will be happening during that time. We may ask what to expect or how to respond to the events in our world. Here are suggestions:

1. Any number and types of people that would include you if you don’t know Christ as Savior will find themselves with the consequences. It could include what we call good people versus bad people. This is not a matter of a man’s goodness. It is a matter if his soul has been regenerated into a new creation by Jesus.
2. Naturally, with so many people disappearing all at once, there will be chaos. There will be confusion. There will be a need understandably so, for someone to lead and solve the world’s problems. According to the Bible, the person that will appear had been named the antichrist. This person will be charming, and an excellent speaker, portraying himself as compassionate, and be surprisingly wise. Do not trust him! He is motivated by Satan himself.
3. There will be an attempt to explain the cause of so many people’s disappearance around the world. Since there has been so much talk about alien invasion from outer space, my belief is that propaganda will say that people  were snatched by these creatures from another planet. I know this sounds ridiculous. However, recognize how much talk has been occurring recently to prove that there are aliens. The hype is building up to a crescendo. It will seem logical to those left behind as an explanation for the loss of their friends and loved ones at that time. Of course, there could be entirely other explanations offered by the evil powers of the world. This thought is just an example of how rationalizations even to the point of being ridiculous could occur.
4. That person will be selected to be the dictator of the world. He will implement specific regulations that will affect every single person. One of those main regulations is to accept what the Bible calls the mark of the beast. Since this article is addressed to you who are left behind, you must make a stunning decision whether or not to accept this mark because without it no person will be permitted to be involved in commerce. You will not be able to purchase the simplest of items such as groceries. Be careful though, to take the mark of the beast is cursing yourself to hell.
5. You still will have the option to accept Christ to be your Savior. However, there will be persecution. You could even be murdered. Even the simplest of persecution could include the loss of job security. I will be likely that the currency will be obsolete.
6. For all those who accept the leadership of the antichrist, the chaos will seem to be calmed. Every nationality will surrender their allegiance to this individual including Jews. He will make a promise to rebuild the temple of the Jews but renege on that promise. Instead, the persecution of Jews will resume worse than it ever was even under Hitler.
7. Your freedoms will be negated by the rules of the antichrist. This means that the slightest infraction done by you will result in arrest, persecution, imprisonment, and even murder. There will be no Supreme Court of any sort to which you can appeal.
8. The identity of your family will be drastically changed. There will be no young children remaining on the earth. Relatives will turn on relatives. The idea of family love or devotion will be obsolete. It will be a time of every man for himself.
9. You might decide to be one of those who flee to hiding places such as in the mountains. It will be best if you are prepared at a moment’s notice to depart from your home forever, including those that have been close to you but are not supportive of your decisions.
10. You will still have the Bible to use as a source of consultation. I suggest you read the book of John. Then pay particular attention to the tenth chapter of the book of Romans. This will be doubly important because with the church gone, which is not a building but a body of believers, the Holy Spirit will not be operating in the same way he is today. Recall the witness of those in your support system who encouraged you to accept Christ as your Savior. However, they will not be available since they have already gone to be with the Lord.
11. Do not be fooled by anyone who claims to be Christ or even one who works miracles. There is one Jesus Christ. There was no other person that can function in the same capacity as he who is the Son of God. Let your memory be a resource for those who warned you. Remember that we today warned you during the time before you are left behind. Recall that no dynamic leader of any denomination or any church group or any regulations is the means of salvation. It is strictly by the faith you place in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

 Keep this article indefinitely as a reminder for what will soon occur after believers all over the world suddenly disappear. They will go to heaven whether they were dead or alive to be with Christ. The duty you have to yourself is to realize what is the basis of salvation, what is the basis of dealing with the crisis in your life after the rapture. God bless you and keep you during this coming terrible time!